by Mark Silva
The president's day starts with a prayer and closes with a joke - but in between, the president will be promoting the "importance of fatherhood.''
President Barack Obama's public day starts at the Esperanza National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast this morning and closes at the annual Radio and TV Correspondents Dinner, which he will address at the Washington Convention Center. The prayer breakfast is part of a serious presidential ritual, the correspondents' dinner part of a ritual trail of presidential humor.
But there is no ritual in this event:
The president is starting a "national conversation on responsible fatherhood and healthy families'' today, the White House says, with Obama taking part in a series of appearances at nonprofit organizations across the Washington area featuring other political and business leaders, educators, media personalities and star athletes.
The lineup:
At Year Up, in Arlington, Va.:The president.
At Life Pieces to Master Pieces: DeWayne Wade of the- Miami Heat & Reggie Love of the White House Staff. At Falcon's Edge: Antwan Randle El of the Washington Redskins and Greg Brown, President and CEO of Motorola Corp.
At the Arch Training Center: Sen. Evan Bayh and Etan Thomas of the Washington Wizards. At Asian American LEAD: BD Wong, Tony Award Winning Actor and Dr. Steve Rosen of the Northwestern Cancer Center.
At the Latin American Youth Center: Tony Hawk, professional skateboarder, and Jorge Ramos, reporter and anchor for Univision. At Covenant House: Dr. Robert Franklin, president of Morehouse College, and Denis McDonough of the White House Staff.
At Gospel Rescue Mission: Bobby Flay, award winning chef, and Michael Strautmanis of the White House Staff. At Ballou Senior High School: Bill Cowher , former NFL coach., and Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC, a Hip Hop artist.
Afterward, this afternoon, the president plans to host a conversation on fatherhood in the East Room of the White House featuring five fathers from the area, who will tell their personal stories about commitment to fatherhood and personal responsibility. Among them, Etan Thomas, of the Wizards. They will close that with a "mentoring session'' for youth on the South Lawn.
Comments
I think this is wonderful...what a positive message this is.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | June 19, 2009 10:24 AM
Let me say-- I wouldn't do things like Obama would do them....As a matter of fact most of the politicians lost me at bail-out Wall St...but the more that emerges from the White House..the more I'm beginning to think Obama might just be able to fill those BIG hollow shoes of his. Even if it's at the expense of massive government....It's kind of exciting...and gut wrenching at the same time.
Posted by: save a seal. club a rat. | June 19, 2009 12:41 PM
Hey, let's have a "conversation" about socialism, massive government debt, hope and change.
Obama could talk about how to change the oil in your car and you'd all be googly eyed and have commentary afterward about how eloquent he pronounced Quaker State! Wake up!
Posted by: Jay | June 20, 2009 12:15 PM
I agree with you lochnessmonster - it is a positive message and as Co-Founder of Ecodads I am encouraged by the national conversation on fatherhood that Obama has initiated. At Ecodads our mission is to create a strong, active network of fathers setting examples for our children to live into a sustainable future. We plan to accomplish this through community programs that support sustainable economic, social, and environmental development. We’re not experts – we’re just average dads doing what we can to make the activities we engage in with our children speak to an environmentally sound future. Ecodads is launching the alpha version of our website this Father’s Day at http://www.ecodads.org – please visit!
Posted by: Ecodad | June 20, 2009 7:54 PM