We all remember President Obama’s first encounter with Stephon
***
Stephon stood just a few feet away from Barack Obama. The president, busy shaking hands, looked right at him. “It was like he was waiting for me to say something,” he said later. So the 26-year-old Prince George’s Community College student took his cue and spoke to President Obama in his first language: American Sign Language.
“I am proud of you,” Stephon signed.
The president, almost involuntary, instinctively, immediately signed back, “Thank you.”
Another deaf student then signed to the president, “I love you.”
The president smiled back at her and shook her hand.
***
“I am proud of you,” Stephon signed. “Thank you,” the President signed back. http://t.co/BUvkSSaf
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 21, 2025
***
Stephon later described his encounter
***
The moment I will never forget was when he looked at me. He gave me a chance to talk to him. It was like he was waiting for me to say something. I took the moment and signed “I am proud of you,” and his response was “Thank u” in sign language back! Oh my gosh! I was like wow! He understood me after I said I was proud of him. It was so amazing…I was just speechless. Right after he thanked me, he smiled at another deaf lady who signed “I love you.” When I shook his hand it did not feel like he was superior to me. He was just a humble man. I am just impressed by him and know that he will have my vote and he will win second term without a doubt. Yeah, I feel safe to have him for another term.
***
Fortunately for Stephon, this would not be his last time meeting the President
***
Here is how he described that encounter: “…I want to be able to show the deaf and hard of hearing that our President Obama is a guy who understands us, and have us to be part of the visuals. When I see President Obama start to raise his voice forcefully at the end, with his firm words emphasizing to us to stick with the plan of Obamacare (known as of Healthcare Reform) all of sudden, I thought to ask one of my friends to hold the camera since she did not plan to shake the President’s hand. So, I was like “perfect”. But then the President moved so fast that I had to rush forward to get a chance to get to the front of the fence to talk to him. My GOAL was to ask him “DO you Remember me?” the second question would be “Will you invite us to the Whitehouse for a dinner?” (This is one of my wild dreams–to have a dinner at White House before President Obama ends his term. I do not want to have dinner with any President but HIM! He is the only one I want to have that experience in my lifetime.
When I took the chance to talk to him in ASL, suddenly he thanked me in ASL! I think I know why he thanked me– because he thanked me to be here again! (Laugh) And I signed to him in ASL “do you remember me?” and then he nods his head at me as if “yes” in body language. I quickly asked an interpreter to voice to Obama if he could invite us for a dinner at White House. But unfortunately, the interpreter and Obama could not hear each other, because the people screamed and cheered so loudly. He was hurried past me quickly by his bodyguards, while my friend tried to make the video of our meeting. I am glad to have had this opportunity. My hope is that someone will deliver my request to him. It would mean so very much to me personally, and to my deaf group as well, to make our dream become a reality — to share dinner with him at the White House before his term comes to an end. He is one of the greatest human beings I have ever met.”
***
Well, President Obama is not the only member of the Obamas that knows sign language!
***
…and today came the incredible news about the new White House receptionist:
“Anyone wanting to speak to the president must stop by her desk first. Leah Katz-Hernandez, 27, is the new White House receptionist. She is also deaf “It’s a fantastic opportunity and also to show that deaf people can do anything,” she said through an interpreter, who is provided for her at work. With a desk just steps away from the Oval Office, Katz-Hernandez is usually the first to greet anyone — from world leaders to White House staff members — who has an appointment with the president or his top-level aides….
***
New @WhiteHouse receptionist is a West Wing pioneer: ‘Deaf people can do anything’ http://t.co/ftbLtKCsnx pic.twitter.com/ot4SfMqGyN — The Lovely Plains (@DaRiverZkind) March 27, 2025
***
…A former White House intern, Katz-Hernandez worked for President Obama’s re-election campaign before being hired onto the staff of First Lady Michelle Obama, who used sign language the first time they met to introduce herself. “It is a great responsibility to be here as a deaf person and I feel very proud of the opportunities that have been given to me,” she said.
****
As a man gestures ‘I love you’ in sign language, President Obama replies with the sign for ‘thank you,’ Phoenix, March 13, 2025
White House.gov
Huh?
Er….I mean.. Hi, everybody, including, CeeCee!
Hellooooooooooo VC!
:grin: Hi, BTF! How’s life? On the occasions I’ve crawled in I’ve noticed that *you* have also been too busy to miss *me*. I should be back to normal middle of next week - can you say the same?
Had a three hour trip at the crack of flippin’ dawn only to learn that my beloved boss had decided yesterday there was no need for me to go - but forgot to tell me.
And after that the day got worse.
Grr.
:( That’s why you get paid the “big bucks!” Sorry you had one of those days…
:-) No worries DF, we all have ‘em!!
We sure do. No fun.
But…but…but… you did get to greet/enjoy the birds who were having their worm meals, didn’t you? /steps aside quickly - just in case/
Plus, don’t forget all you have been able to accomplish since you were already up! Are you referring to the mountain of completed work you did as ‘worse’?
But not sure I accomplished much today, VC - it was kinda like this:
:grin: :grin: Thinking to myself as I grin…’Well, you did catch a-hold of it for a while. That should count for something.’ :grin: {{{CeeCee}}}
Yeah but it HURT when I bit my tail!1!1!
*chortle* *chortle* DannyO sure got his love of chewing/biting honestly.
Whoa. :star:
As marked with my eloquent, shocked response. ;)
Hi, MP.
Congrats on #1, VC.
Thanks NathK - nice to see you in the light of day too! :)
My daughter is taking a Friday break to hang out with her friends. This means I get to use the computer to read TOD during decent hours.
^5 Nathk! :grin: :grin:
Congrats, vc!
Hel-loooo, S60! Ty
Congrats VC :)
LP, your post ‘warms my heart’!! Thank you!!!
Greetings, Mr. Bofr.
TGIF
Hey, there, GDD! Did you check out the Wednesday opportunity to pick uf Easter Egg tickets if you are on social medai?
Hi VC, I responded to your DM. I was too late. I didn’t see it until after the deadline :(
:( Ah, okay, next year, for sure! The little princesses will be more appreciative too. [ :oops: I will go check *my* DM now. ;) ]
Beeeeeeeeeautiful post LP, thank you HUGELY for this!!
And Nerdy, you’re a gem, thanks a trazillion for your earlier post - legend.
I love this post LP. Thanks for the memories.
My pleasure, Chips! ……I hope you didn’t have too bad of an adventure today…hopefully Danny knows the state of play and cuts you some slack this weekend :mrgreen:
Thank you again LP, a really, really lovely post! Danny forgave me everything when I finally got him out for a walk today and he found a new girlfriend, Laya the Boxer :-)
I hope she was fixed :lol:
OMG!!!! :lol:
like tyrant, like dog.
Since when did I fall in love with a boxer called Laya? Wayne, maybe, but not Laya.
ruiney, mata, whasshisnamefootie, thefottieswithstupidhair, japa, LL …. the list goes on.
a flippin’ flitting butterfly.
:lol: I thought you were suggesting I’m attracted to Boxer dogs, but it was my alleged infidelities you were commenting on? It’s called keeping-options-open, buster.
“alleged” infidelities / It’s called keeping-options-open.
#busted.
I’ll make you eat some of my soup if you’re not careful.
I eat pizza with a f&k. so there …
You’ll need one of these for my soup:
#braggingtoomuch?
Smashingly great!! Love WWW:)
Can’t wait to see the celebratory “West Wing Week” next week!
Really inspiring!!
Thanks for sharing this, Chipsticks. What a priceless pic of the supposedly “aloof” and “arrogant” President. Unlike the indoctrinated adults, children instinctively know who is for real and who is a fake. From this pic, and from all the pictures of President Obama’s interaction with children that appear on TOD, no one can mistake the mutual warmth between President Obama and the children he meets.
It really is a beauty Nathkatun, so natural and sweet, love ‘em!
Oops, LPlains, rushing so much never noticed it was you! Thanks for the memory lane trip - I am a great fan of PBO memory lane. ;)
I wouldn’t expect anything less….obvious your main concern was sliding in while nobody was looking :cool:
:grin: You know me.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS…I AM HAPPY FOR HIM…HE NEEDS IT…MAKES ME HAPPYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! I LOVE MY ENERGIZER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great post, LP! We really have an extraordinary President. I am so thankful that Chipsticks created this blog to document President Obama’s greatness. People who hate him are desperately trying to falsify the record of his presidency and to denigrate his character. As long as TOD exists, they will never succeed.
AMENNNNNN
TY, Nath! Couldn’t have said it better….I echo your sentiments
LP, It’s you, NW, many others who post here and, of course, the great Chipsticks who deserve all our thanks. You are all engaged in setting straight the record of the Obama presidency.
Weepin’ at this - you know the way we all get a touch frustrated with WordPress glitches? Um, not half as frustrated as this person. Methinks their tone will result in zilch help:-)
https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/you-fucking-suck?replies=1
what, fywp wasn’t good enough for him?
Good evening, good people.
My temporary stewardship of this library leaves me very little time to chat with everyone here, or write, or do much of anything. Next week is my last week and then I’m back at home base. Should be posting more then. Miss you all terribly.
And:
Hope all’s going well LL, hugs.
I cannot believe that President Obama was snubbed by Forbes and was not included on their “Greatest Leadership” list. Spandan over at The Peoples View took Forbes to the woodshed. I believe if President Obama were white he’ll be on that list.
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/main/2015/3/27/fortune-dumb-defense-of-snubbing-obama-for-greatest-leaders-list
I meant Fortune Magazine NOT Forbes.
I’d pretty much feel like that if he were standing close to me like that:) Leaning in like that…. ( Are they the cutest couple ever!)
SUCH AN ADORABLE PICTURE…THAT’S OUR FIRST COUPLE!!!!!
I love love this picture.
ohhhhh myyyy…I simply Love this Photo….
Awww!! They just melt my heart!
It’s adoooooooorable, Dakota!
The CUTE-o-METER just completely BROKE.
How cute are they!!!
That’s the Leader of the free world and his lovely wife <3
FLOTUS looks just like Sasha. I hope the tweeter world see that FLOTUS still has her hair. I tell you that whole bald head thing was just plain stupid.
Happily I missed that nonsense :-)
Chipsticks I wish I had missed it. Because it made no sense at all.
Haters gonna hate, ignore the nutters Anniebella.
Doesn’t FLOTUS look like she is about 25 years old or younger?
The important part … “in response to President Hadi’s request” ….
Get a load of this!
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.ca/2015/03/free-eric-holder.html
//…………………………
A new fashion trend is sweeping the halls of the Justice Department for spring – “Free Eric Holder’’ wristbands, an inside joke among Attorney General Eric Holder‘s top aides and supporters about the months-long political standoff over his successor.
The black rubber bracelets were the idea of Molly Moran, a senior Justice Department official, according to people who have received them. The wristbands, like the kind people wear to support various charities or causes, started appearing on staffers’ wrists a couple weeks ago, when it became clear there was no end in sight to the standoff over the nomination of Loretta Lynch…
Staffers have paid for the bracelets with their own money
………………………….//
//…………………………………
Now, the fad of little black rubber bracelets saying “Free Eric Holder” has grown beyond the Justice Department building, appearing on the wrists of some of Mr. Holder’s ex-staffers, like his former spokeswoman Adora Jenkins. She said the bracelets are a fun way to mark how the nomination process has dragged on and kept Mr. Holder in the job he’d like to leave.
“I think it’s just gotten to the point where it’s ridiculous how long this has been going on and friends and supporters of the attorney general want to be able to show their support and also have a laugh,’’ said Ms. Jenkins.
……………………………//
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/03/27/fashion-statement-at-justice-department-free-eric-holder-wristbands/
the criminal GOP.
But President Obama’s most lasting impact in leadership may rest not simply in the transformation he has spearheaded for our country but in the hopes he has inspired in not just Americans but in the world: that no matter the odds, human endeavor is capable of eroding the toughest of barriers.
They will put him down any which way what way & still he rises - a man of the people, for the people and elected by the people
Obama will be long remembered while these meaningless ‘lists’ - even the ones that claim he is no. 1 - would be forgotten by tomorrow.
It’s great to see that my favorite home town theater is still getting the message out! There have been efforts to stop the owner from doing this, but he’s stood his ground, stating that it’s his theater and he’ll put whatever he wants on the marquee.
As a side note, this theater has been around since vaudeville. It has plush carpets an ornate decorations. They turned into a multiplex (3 screens) sometime in the 80’s I believe, unfortunately. However, there have been movie premieres there (hubby and I met Spike Lee there when he premiered “Bamboozled”) and other grass root events as well. On Saturday nights a gentleman playing songs on the Wurlizer Organ still rises up from below the stage before the main feature!
I hope I’m posting this properly and not crossing any lines. Not that knowledgeable about that.
Good to see this!
“Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino mogul and a powerful donor to Republican “super PACs,” is among those who have expressed concerns to Mr. Bush’s friends and allies, several of them said. Mr. Adelson is said to be incensed over Mr. Baker’s comments and the lack of pressure put on him by the Bush team before his address — a significant concern, given that Mr. Adelson has the resources to pour tens of millions of dollars into the Republican presidential primary.
But the flare-up could thrust Mr. Bush into conflict with some of the most hawkish voices in his party, including some leading Republican donors, and a constituency determined to demonstrate its strength in the primary.
“A few months ago, people I speak to thought Jeb Bush was the guy. That’s changed,” said Morton A. Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, a conservative pro-Israel organization.”
This is what #Adelson’s money enables ….
Fact ….
ugh ….
True
Thank Senator Reid
http://www.thankharryreid.com/?sc=durbin
Hate Speech dressed up in the First Amendment….
Why? Because it’s easy to do. Muslims are viewed by many as the “other,” not as fellow Americans. But discussing domestic terrorism carried out by fellow Americans is at best, uncomfortable, and at worst, undermines the narrative that some in our country have a vested interest in advancing.
I’m not sure what will change this mindset, but if we want to truly keep Americans safe, law enforcement and the media need to understand that terrorism is not just a Muslim thing.
Stunning
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/03/27/a-tweet-or-two-272/
lmao.