As Black History Month concludes and we approach the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, I thought it was appropriate to reflect on how the Presidency of Barack Obama has affected my life personally and that of many citizens of this Nation.  As a staff member of the AFSCME International, I was assigned to work in Chicago on then State Senator, Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate campaign.  So it was easy for me to commit to be his first Super Delegate in the State of Indiana when he ran for President.

I have two granddaughters who are attending college, one at Hampton University who graduates in May and another at Butler University.  Their mother was laid off from her job two years ago, and was recently diagnosed with congestive heart failure caused in part by stress.  My daughter’s care is paid for through the Medicaid Insurance Program, and I pay for the girls insurance through each of their college health insurance programs.

Thankfully, President Obama has been looking out for my daughter and granddaughters.  He fought to protect Medicaid, which allows my daughter to get affordable care.  He passed landmark healthcare reform which will allow my granddaughters to keep their coverage until age 26, and ensure they won’t be discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition.

As a retired former AFSCME International Union staff representative, I have been able to pay for their tuition, room and board through a monthly payment plan.  The girls have also worked while attending school and during the summer, but without the help of the Pell Grant program I don’t know if they would be able to go to college.  I thank him every day for expanding the Pell Grant program, and for making college a reality for millions of other young children.

During the summer of 2011 both girls were blessed to have been accepted into the AmeriCorps program, and given the opportunity to serve their communities.  The AmeriCorp program pays for tuition and has provided me some financial relief.

My husband worked as a pharmacist for 45 years before retiring.  Shortly afterwards, he was diagnosed with kidney failure and prostate cancer and is now on dialysis, but if it wasn’t for Medicare, he may not be alive today and we would be bankrupt.

I am grateful President Obama continues to fight for Medicare (not entitlement program) that President Lyndon Johnson passed nearly 50 years ago. It has made a difference in the lives of countless Americans, and we can count on President Obama to look out for those in need and fight back against the Republicans who want to gut these critical programs.  I will be forever grateful that President Obama has been the leader of our time.  The best way to reward him is to get out and vote for him in November.

To learn more about the President’s accomplishments click here.

Four years ago, this country did something historic; something few thought was possible in electing Barack Obama.  And two million more African Americans were inspired to come out and vote than in the previous Presidential election – 96% of whom supported the President.

When he took office, there was a sense that America had lost its moral compass; that we needed to restore the basic values that made our country great.  And from day one, President Obama took action to restore the sense that we’re all in this together; that hard work will pay off; and that everyone who does their fair share and plays by the same rules will be rewarded.

He’s laid the foundation for a vibrant and prosperous America by investing in education, infrastructure, and reforming the health care system to improve access to health care for all Americans.  And the President has a vision for moving the country forward, and maintaining our position as that shining city upon a hill.  But he can’t do it alone. 

If we are going to finish the job that began on a blustery day in the shadow of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois; if we are going to protect the change that we have made in the President’s first term; then we are going to have to work even harder than we did in 2008.

That’s why we have re-examined every tactic from four years ago, honed our strategy, and launched new initiatives that will give all Americans, including African Americans, more ownership of this campaign.

During Black History Month, we launched “Greater Together Summits” on the campuses of 28 HBCUs across the country including marquee events at the AUC in Atlanta and North Carolina Central University.  Nearly 1,000 students came out to the Atlanta University Center on the campus of Clark Atlanta to hear from Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Keshia Knight Pullium and Janelle Monae talk about why they’re supporting the President.

We’ve started the Black Business Captains Program aimed at incorporating and cultivating business leaders into a larger program of empowerment and engagement for the African American community.  These captains will take the lead on educating local businesses on participation importance and opportunities; reach out to key business leaders and involve their personal networks; and provide validation for organizers doing voter registration and volunteer outreach efforts within their businesses.

And along with several other initiatives, we launched BarackObama.com/AfricanAmericans giving supporters more ownership over the campaign, information about the President’s accomplishments and how they can get involved.

However, Republicans want to turn back the clock on the President’s accomplishments and have taken action in 30 states to make voting harder.  It is clear that these laws are designed to keep tens of millions of Americans from being able to cast their vote.  That’s why earlier this year we launched a new website, protectingthevote.org.  This will educate voters about their right to vote, and expose the Republican Party’s attempts to limit our rights for their political gain.

As the President said, “Voting is a fundamental right – and when we make our voices heard, we can keep moving our nation forward, building a fairer, stronger and more just America.”  And this campaign will be about inclusiveness.  We’re trying to get as many Americans involved as possible.  That’s the true spirit of our elections.  We’ve never solved anything in America with less democracy, and we won't now.

And so as we close out Black History Month, it’s important to remember the President’s words when we embarked on this great journey.  Five years ago in Springfield he said, “in the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it.”  This country has come a long way, but there’s still work to do.  We know we can count on the President to lead us to better days.  Let’s stand with him and keep this country moving in the right direction. 

Four years ago, this country did something historic; something few thought was possible in electing Barack Obama. And two million more African Americans were inspired to come out and vote than in the previous Presidential election—96 percent of whom supported the President.

When he took office, there was a sense that America had lost its moral compass; that we needed to restore the basic values that made our country great. And from day one, President Obama took action to restore the sense that we’re all in this together; that hard work will pay off; and that everyone who does their fair share and plays by the same rules will be rewarded.

He’s laid the foundation for a vibrant and prosperous America by investing in education, infrastructure, and reforming the health care system to improve access to health care for all Americans. And the President has a vision for moving the country forward and maintaining our position as that shining city upon a hill. But he can’t do it alone. 

If we are going to finish the job that began on a blustery day in the shadow of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois; if we are going to protect the change that we have made in the President’s first term; then we are going to have to work even harder than we did in 2008.

That’s why we have re-examined every tactic from four years ago, honed our strategy, and launched new initiatives that will give all Americans, including African Americans, more ownership of this campaign.

During Black History Month, we launched Greater Together Summits on the campuses of 28 HBCUs across the country, including marquee events at the AUC in Atlanta and North Carolina Central University. Nearly 1,000 students came out to the Atlanta University Center on the campus of Clark Atlanta to hear from Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Keshia Knight Pullium, and Janelle Monaé talk about why they’re supporting the President.

We’ve started the Black Business Captains Program aimed at incorporating and cultivating business leaders into a larger program of empowerment and engagement for the African American community. These captains will take the lead on educating local businesses on participation importance and opportunities; reach out to key business leaders and involve their personal networks; and provide validation for organizers doing voter registration and volunteer outreach efforts within their businesses.

And along with several other initiatives, we launched BarackObama.com/AfricanAmericans, giving supporters more ownership over the campaign, information about the President’s accomplishments, and how they can get involved.

However, Republicans want to turn back the clock on the President’s accomplishments and have taken action in 30 states to make voting harder. It is clear that these laws are designed to keep tens of millions of Americans from being able to cast their vote. That’s why earlier this year we launched a new website, protectingthevote.org. This will educate voters about their right to vote, and expose the Republican Party’s attempts to limit our rights for their political gain.

As the President said, “Voting is a fundamental right—and when we make our voices heard, we can keep moving our nation forward, building a fairer, stronger and more just America.” And this campaign will be about inclusiveness. We’re trying to get as many Americans involved as possible. That’s the true spirit of our elections. We’ve never solved anything in America with less democracy, and we won't now.

And so as we close out Black History Month, it’s important to remember the President’s words when we embarked on this great journey. Five years ago in Springfield, he said, “In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it.” This country has come a long way, but there’s still work to do. We know we can count on the President to lead us to better days. Let’s stand with him and keep this country moving in the right direction. 

During Black History Month, the White House saluted and reflected on the contributions African Americans have made to the rich fabric that makes up the United States. Read the rest of the story here.

The conclusion of Black History Month is a great time to reflect on the accomplishments of African Americans and contemplate where we are headed as a Nation.  And this year’s theme, “Black Women in American Culture and History," is a reminder for all to look back on the important role black women have played in our nation, the struggles they continue to face, and the incredibly important role they will play in our future. 

From household names like Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan, and Coretta Scott King, to the millions of mothers, doctors, veterans and teachers living outside the spotlight, black women have shaped the character of these United States with their intellect, passion, and toughness.

Thankfully, we have a President who recognizes the tremendous contributions of African American women, and has taken action to improve the country they and all Americans live in. From our First Lady Michelle Obama, to United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, to the former Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes, and the Surgeon General of the United States Dr. Regina Benjamin, the strength, talents, and successes of contemporary black women have deeply influenced the Obama Administration and continue to shape American history and improve the lives of all our citizens.

In proclaiming February as Black History Month, President Obama said, “As we celebrate the successes of African American women, we recall that progress did not come easily, and that our work to widen the circle of opportunity for all Americans is not complete. With eyes cast toward new horizons, we must press on in pursuit of a high-quality education for every child, a job for every American who wants one, and a fair chance at prosperity for every individual and family across our Nation.”

Before President Obama took office, too many Americans had been hurt by a decade of declining wages and unemployment. That’s why President Obama has invested in job training and education reforms, in expanding access to affordable health care – especially for children, and cracking down on credit card and mortgage abuses by the biggest banks.

The very first bill President Obama signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act that ensured all people are able to receive the same pay for the same work.  American women have always stood shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts, and now they must be treated equally in the workplace.

Because access to quality, affordable health care is at the very heart of a family’s security and well-being, President Obama pushed for and signed the Affordable Care Act that improved access to health care for all Americans – including seven million African Americans who will get the insurance coverage they currently lack.  Giving women more control over their health care, the Act banned gender discrimination from insurance companies and ensured women have better access to preventative care.

President Obama has also called education equality the “civil rights issue of our time” and has made it a priority. He’s pushed for changes that improve our nation’s schools and put an outstanding education within reach for every American, from cradle through career. He’s doubled the amount spent on Pell Grants, and championed bold student loan reform that will end more than $60 billion in bank subsidies, and use those savings to help students. President Obama also created Race to the Top with a historic $4.35 billion investment in American K-12 schools and made a record $850 million investment in Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Just as the contributions of African American women have benefited all Americans, so have the President’s efforts and accomplishments. As we close out Black History Month, it’s important to note how far we have come as a Nation, where we want to go, and who is the best candidate to take us there. The President, with significant help from black women, has turned the country around and kept his promise to take us in a new direction. And in November, I am looking forward to honoring the service, the contributions and the achievement of all those who have come before with four more years of an Obama Presidency.

To learn more about the President’s accomplishments, click here.

The conclusion of Black History Month is a great time to reflect on the accomplishments of African Americans and contemplate where we are headed as a Nation.  And this year’s theme, “Black Women in American Culture and History," is a reminder for all to look back on the important role black women have played in our nation, the struggles they continue to face, and the incredibly important role they will play in our future. 

From household names like Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan, and Coretta Scott King, to the millions of mothers, doctors, veterans and teachers living outside the spotlight, black women have shaped the character of these United States with their intellect, passion, and toughness.

Thankfully, we have a President who recognizes the tremendous contributions of African American women, and has taken action to improve the country they and all Americans live in. From our First Lady Michele Obama, to United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, to the former Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes, and the Surgeon General of the United States Dr. Regina Benjamin, the strength, talents, and successes of contemporary black women have deeply influenced the Obama Administration and continue to shape American history and improve the lives of all our citizens.

In proclaiming February as Black History Month, President Obama said, “As we celebrate the successes of African American women, we recall that progress did not come easily, and that our work to widen the circle of opportunity for all Americans is not complete. With eyes cast toward new horizons, we must press on in pursuit of a high-quality education for every child, a job for every American who wants one, and a fair chance at prosperity for every individual and family across our Nation.”

Before President Obama took office, too many Americans had been hurt by a decade of declining wages and unemployment. That’s why President Obama has invested in job training and education reforms, in expanding access to affordable health care – especially for children, and cracking down on credit card and mortgage abuses by the biggest banks.

The very first bill President Obama signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act that ensured all people are able to receive the same pay for the same work.  American women have always stood shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts, and now they must be treated equally in the workplace.

Because access to quality, affordable health care is at the very heart of a family’s security and well-being, President Obama pushed for and signed the Affordable Care Act that improved access to health care for all Americans – including seven million African Americans who will get the insurance coverage they currently lack.  Giving women more control over their health care, the Act banned gender discrimination from insurance companies and ensured women have better access to preventative care.

President Obama has also called education equality the “civil rights issue of our time” and has made it a priority. He’s pushed for changes that improve our nation’s schools and put an outstanding education within reach for every American, from cradle through career. He’s doubled the amount spent on Pell Grants, and championed bold student loan reform that will end more than $60 billion in bank subsidies, and use those savings to help students. President Obama also created Race to the Top with a historic $4.35 billion investment in American K-12 schools and made a record $850 million investment in Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Just as the contributions of African American women have benefited all Americans, so have the President’s efforts and accomplishments. As we close out Black History Month, it’s important to note how far we have come as a Nation, where we want to go, and who is the best candidate to take us there. The President, with significant help from black women, has turned the country around and kept his promise to take us in a new direction. And in November, I am looking forward to honoring the service, the contributions and the achievement of all those who have come before with four more years of an Obama Presidency.

To learn more about the President’s accomplishments, click here.

The first three years of President Obama's administration have been a huge success despite some monumental challenges. Meanwhile, Republicans are doing everything possible to turn back the clock. They've launched a coordinated effort in 30 states to make it harder for millions of Americans, some of whom voted for the first time in 2008, to vote in November. Thankfully there are robust legal efforts underway to protect access to the ballot box and we must hope that those challenges succeed.  However we can't leave it up to the courts. We must educate voters about changes to the law and motivate supporters of the President to protect his accomplishments.

As a Member of the Illinois General Assembly, a Democratic State Central Committeewoman, the 1st Vice Chair of the Illinois Democratic Party and a DNC member, I often hear from my constituents and others, that they are pleased with the President’s accomplishments that are helping the country as a whole, and the African American Community in particular.

When you take a step back and think about all that the President has done, you have to conclude that the President has done a remarkable job and made lasting change that will help African Americans for decades.

Despite a Republican Congress with no desire to compromise, the President has turned the country around after eight disastrous years of failed leadership. Thanks to President Obama, we now have an economy that is growing and creating jobs. He saved the auto industry and the 1.4 million jobs it supports. 

The President increased access to healthcare for seven million African Americans currently without coverage and ended some of the worst abuses from insurance companies. He made college more affordable and made a record investment in HBCU's. The President revitalized schools and boosted Head Start funding, and put more capital into the hands of minority-owned businesses.

While we owe the President a debt of gratitude for his courageous actions, the best way to reward him is with another term to finish turning the country around. I am hopeful that all Americans will remember these accomplishments and recognize the importance of casting their votes for necessary and meaningful change in November.

To learn more about the President’s accomplishments on behalf of African Americans, click here.

When I think about President Barack Obama, I can easily list a number of policy changes and legislative victories that are impressive in their own right.  But more importantly, they have led this nation on the road to economic recovery, political stability and respect from the international community.  The Affordable Care Act, saving America’s automobile industry, equal pay for equal work under the Lilly Ledbetter Act, ending the war in Iraq and getting rid of Osama Bin Laden are very big accomplishments.  However, those are not the most significant reasons why I support President Barack Obama.

As an African American man who is a husband and father, Barack Obama helps me in ways he probably can’t imagine and I’d be lost for words to explain it to him personally.  My son, Casey Maddox is five years old and his ambitions are limitless because of the success of Barack Obama.  When I was five years old, I could never have imagined being President of the United States because it was completely unthinkable.  And my parents reminded me of it in their own loving way.  My ambitions had limits; fortunately, that’s not the case with my son Casey.

The success of Barack Obama has taught my African American son that he really can be anything he wants to be and it is more than just a slogan.  I thank Barack Obama for that.  I thank him because he has given my son a gift I never had, the gift of limitless ambitions and uninhibited imagination.  As a father I want my son to be everything he can possibly be and Barack Obama allows little Casey Maddox to dream what was once impossible dreams and I love and admire him for that.

The President has helped turn the country around, and he is cool under pressure.  But his presence and his success has helped me inspire my son.  And that is a priceless gift.

To learn more about the President’s accomplishments, click here.

A businessman for whom I have great respect once observed that, when tackling problems, most things are simple, but not easy.  In expressing this view, he easily could have had President Obama in mind. 

In his first term in office, despite the headwinds, the President‘s handling of the most intractable problems was masterful.  And just when you think that something monumental could fall through the cracks because he’s had so many fires to put out and so few water hoses with which to do it, time and again, he demonstrates that he never takes his eye off the ball.      

Case in point:  Who had even an inkling that while taking playful jabs at Donald Trump during last year’s White House Correspondents dinner, he was actually in the throes of executing a plan that would be the next day’s breaking news - our Navy Seals’ Mission Impossible-like raid that relegated Osama Bin Laden to a closed chapter in the war on terror.  Or that the handshake he gave to Leon Panetta just before his recent State of the Union address was to congratulate him for the subsequently announced hostage rescue made by the very same SEALS team.

Of course, not all of the successes during his short time in office are as spine tingling.  But the list is long and feats are hard won.  What makes them all exceptional is that he accomplishes them with so little fanfare that, if we’re not careful, we could be lulled into taking them for granted.  This would be a mistake because, remember that while it may be simple, it is never easy. 

Consider just a few of the promises kept that any American should be embarrassed to take issue with, despite the wide and sometimes irreconcilable range of views that make up the American political landscape:

• Al-Qaida fatally crippled
• $20 Billion+ Support for our Veterans
• Rescue of the U.S. Auto Industry
• Equal pay for Women
• $36 Billion provided for Pell grants to low income students by eliminating Subsidies to the banks
• Improving Jobs landscape                           

All of this is to say that, if this cameo of the Administration’s 3 year batting average is any example, then it’s self-evident why America needs four more years of an Obama Presidency.

And as we recognize Black History month, we should remain mindful that the source of pride is not merely in having an African American President, but rather, it’s in having this President who happens to be African American.

During the last election, I asked Tupper Jones, a 90+ year old African American retired businessman in Cofield, North Carolina, if he’d ever thought he’d live to see a black man become President.  He responded that he had been thinking about it all of his life.  Imagine how he feels today.

At this moment in history, when all of America thirsts for a return to prosperity, optimism about tomorrow and a recalibration of our moral compass, we are blessed to have an unflappable President who hit the ground running and is just at the beginning of a long distance race. 

Happily, President Obama has no need for 21 gun salutes for his accomplishments or to win the latest popularity contest.  What he does need is us because his job is only half done. 

Let’s use this occasion to commit ourselves to making sure America has what it needs - another Obama term – through volunteering, contributions, organizing, persuading and, if need be, willing it to happen.

President Barack Obama has done an outstanding job under some of the most difficult circumstances in decades, and he deserves a second term to finish turning the country around.  When he campaigned for President, he promised to reform our health care system, end the war in Iraq, restore a sense of fairness to our economy and look out for the middle class.  He’s done all of that and much more.

Before President Obama signed the health care bill into law, 1 in 5 African Americans were without health insurance.  That will no longer be the case when the law is fully implemented in 2014.  And the President ended the rescission policy that allowed insurance companies to drop someone if they hit the cap on their coverage or had a pre-existing condition. That’s a promise kept.

After the financial collapse, the President vowed to put some common sense rules of the road in place to prevent another taxpayer-funded bailout. He established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which will end the worst abuses from the credit card and mortgage industry. 

And he’s taken several steps to turn the housing market around and reduce the number of foreclosures. He recently announced a major settlement with the banks that requires them to pay billions of dollars in relief to homeowners and guarantees that they will help families refinance their high interest rate mortgages.

America needs this kind of leadership and more of it. 2008 was a historical election and we’ve seen the change the President talked about.  2012 is about protecting that change and ensuring that we keep the country heading in the right direction. To learn more about how the President has kept his promise, click here.

I support President Obama because he has put forward a social, political and economic vision for the United States, which ensures that we will continue to prosper in the 21^st Century.  For too long, politicians in Washington failed to understand that our nation was crumbling, and little action was taken to find solutions to some of our most pressing issues.  Everything from our bridges, and tunnels, to classrooms and community colleges has suffered from a lack of investment.  Thankfully, President Obama has seized the moment to turn things around.

While he inherited an economy that was spiraling towards a second Great Depression, the president seized the initiative and began laying the foundation for an economy that is built to last.  Not only did he include important funding to keeping teachers in our classrooms and cops on the beat through the Recovery act; but the President is also trying to renew the American values that made the middle class – values like fairness and opportunity where everyone plays by the same rules.  And educating future generations so they can compete against countries like India and China is central to his blueprint.

The President launched “Race to the Top” to rewards schools that provide quality programs for vulnerable children across the country.  And the President has also made a deeper commitment to HBCUs, investing $850 million for these institutions over the next 10 years.  And he’s made it clear to all agencies that supporting HBCUs isn’t just a job for the Department of Education.

While we’ve come a long way over the last three years, there’s still plenty of work left to do.  Click here if you want to learn more about how the President is trying to build an America that lasts.

Throughout American history, tough choices, compassion, conviction and change have been qualities we admire in our Presidents. Fortunately for our country, President Obama has displayed them all through some of the darkest days our country has faced in decades. While we aren’t out of the woods yet, we cannot afford to take a leap of faith on an unproven leader who cannot be trusted to stand up for working families.

When he ran for the presidency four years ago, Barack Obama promised the American people that if he were elected, he’d fight to restore a sense of fairness to our society, reform health care, and make investments in America that would pay dividends for future generations. He’s kept his promise—and then some.

Thanks to President Obama, 32 million Americans will have access to quality health care that didn’t have it before, thanks to health reform. Nearly a quarter of African Americans will no longer be denied access to health insurance because of pre-existing conditions. President Obama has made college more affordable for working families by eliminating billions of dollars in subsidies to the big banks that administered the college loan program.

The President also secured $850 million in additional funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and $150 million for predominantly black institutions. And Congress finally passed the President’s payroll tax cut, which benefits 18.5 million African Americans, putting $800 back in the average family’s pocket.

President Obama is the change that you and I can depend on. I’m happy to say that President Obama kept his promises and he deserves four more years to finish the job. To learn more about what the President hopes to accomplish, click here.

Throughout American history, tough choices, compassion, conviction and change have been qualities we admire in our Presidents. Fortunately for our country, President Obama has displayed them all through some of the darkest days our country has faced in decades. While we aren’t out of the woods yet, we cannot afford to take a leap of faith on an unproven leader who cannot be trusted to stand up for working families.

When he ran for the presidency four years ago, Barack Obama promised the American people that if he were elected, he’d fight to restore a sense of fairness to our society, reform health care, and make investments in America that would pay dividends for future generations. He’s kept his promise—and then some.

Thanks to President Obama, 32 million Americans will have access to quality health care that didn’t have it before, thanks to health reform. Nearly a quarter of African Americans will no longer be denied access to health insurance because of pre-existing conditions. President Obama has made college more affordable for working families by eliminating billions of dollars in subsidies to the big banks that administered the college loan program.

The President also secured $850 million in additional funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and $150 million for predominantly black institutions. And Congress finally passed the President’s payroll tax cut, which benefits 18.5 million African Americans, putting $800 back in the average family’s pocket.

President Obama is the change that you and I can depend on. I’m happy to say that President Obama kept his promises and he deserves four more years to finish the job. To learn more about what the President hopes to accomplish, click here.

Like millions of Americans, I was inspired by Barack Obama, a visionary leader who aroused my hopes, renewed my confidence that our best days are ahead and demonstrated that nothing can withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change.

But as an African American woman, I know all too well that change is hard.  Progress has never come easily or quickly in this country.  However, as Democrats we realize no matter how difficult things get we must keep fighting and we must keep moving forward.  It is this spirit that guided our nation for 236 years.  And it is this spirit that has guided President Obama since his first day in office.

Handed an economy teetering on collapse and facing an extreme Republican Party, President Obama started working to bring us back from the brink; to restore prosperity; and to build a future where everybody does their fair share, gets a fair shot and plays by the same rules. 

The change President Obama achieved in three short years can be seen in the 3.7 million jobs created over 23 consecutive months of job growth, the rescue of the auto industry, and the restoration of American manufacturing.  He passed historic healthcare reform that delivers affordable care and ends insurance company abuses, doubled funding for Pell Grants, implemented tough Wall Street reform that protects consumers from predatory practices, extended unemployment benefits and expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit.  And he kept his promise to end the war in Iraq.

Yet for all the promises kept and progress made, there remains more to do.

We have to keep fighting to rebuild our roads and bridges, keep teachers and police officers on the job, renew our investments in education, research and technology, strengthen Social Security and Medicare, promote clean energy, and tackle our deficits with a balanced approach.

I have spent 30 years working in public schools, and have raised two children of my own.  It is heartbreaking to see the next generation discouraged, despondent, and uncertain about whether they can realize the American Dream.  In these dark times, only President Obama can be that bright light of hope and possibility.

When I think of this election, I remember what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called "the fierce urgency of now.”  I believe we stand at a critical moment in history.  We can choose either to move forward or move back.  We can either renew the promise of America or return to the failed policies of the past.

In 2012, we must make the right choice, again.  We must move forward with President Barack Obama.  To learn more about the President's record, and how you can help him move the country forward, click here.

I support President Obama even more than I did during his initial campaign for President.  During the 2008 campaign then Senator Obama was a bright flash of hope on a dismal political landscape.  While his education and activism in Chicago were inspiring, his brilliance and commitment to “building a more perfect union” convinced me that he was the right man for the job.

Our country and our President have been through some tough times over the last four years.  Yet the President has worked hard to turn the country around and he has fulfilled several of his campaign promises.

President Obama said that he would reform the failed “No Child Left Behind” and he has.  The President invested billions of dollars in “Race to the Top,” to reform low-performing schools and reward schools that give vulnerable children a quality education.  President Obama also said that he would work to close the education gap by promoting more preschool education.  And in 2010, his budget included $300 million for an Early Learning Challenge Fund to help states create “zero-to-five systems” to prepare children for kindergarten.

The President also promised that he would work tirelessly to create an economy that lasts so the children we are educating have jobs when they graduate.  We’re starting to see the fruits of his labor, but now is not the time to turn back.  The economy has added jobs in the private sector for 23 straight months.  The President saved the auto industry, and the millions of jobs it supports.  And manufacturing is adding jobs for the first time since the late 1990’s. 

By accomplishing as much as he has in the midst of rigid partisan opposition, President Obama has proven himself to be the definition of strength, courage and leadership.  It is for this reason and so many others that I am focused on working to ensure that President Obama has a second term so he can finish what he started.

To learn more about the President’s accomplishments, click here.

Like many of the heroes we celebrate during Black History Month, President Obama has made his mark in history.  He is to be celebrated for the great strides his administration has made on behalf of African Americans.  While the United States Virgin Islands cannot cast a vote for the President of the United States, we still stand behind our President who has fought to make the territory, and the country, a better place to call home.  The President fought against huge cuts to critical programs that make a difference in the lives of thousands of Virgin Islanders. 

When Republicans in Congress tried to turn Medicare into a voucher program, the President stood up for seniors and blocked the draconian cuts from taking place.  He fought for an extension of the payroll tax cut that puts extra money in the pockets of 160 million Americans.  And he’s outlined an ambitious plan to boost the tourism industry, which is the livelihood of the Virgin Islands’ economy and responsible for thousands of jobs.

The President’s plan would make sure that the United States is the number one tourist destination in the world.  His plan would encourage people from countries like India, Brazil and China to visit the U.S.V.I. and other destinations without a tourism visa.  As the President said, “The more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work.  It’s that simple.”

Because of the work and commitment of President Barack Obama, we have a renewed spirit and hope across the country that things are getting better.  And the more things improve, the more it becomes clear that we cannot afford to go back to a time when Wall Street makes the rules, insurance companies are in charge of our healthcare and companies are rewarded for shipping jobs overseas.  In November, we need to make sure that we are doing everything possible to help re-elect President Obama and keep moving our country forward.

To learn more about the President’s accomplishments, click here.

I support President Barak Obama because in his first term he has helped restore our country’s values and our standing across the globe.  After the financial collapse nearly drove our economy to another great depression, President Obama took unprecedented action and got things back on track.  He passed the Recovery Act, which saved millions of jobs, kept teachers in our classrooms and cops on the beat.  Thanks to his leadership, we’ve added 3.7 million private-sector jobs over 23 consecutive months of job growth.

The President knew that we could not allow business as usual to continue, so he worked with Congress to pass the toughest financial reform legislation that will ensure we never have to bail out the banks again.  President Obama knew that after decades of looking out for Wall Street, we had to turn our focus back to Main Street.  He has reigned in some of the most abusive practices in the mortgage, credit card, and payday lending industries that historically targeted African Americans. We’ve turned the corner, and the President is building an economy that rewards hard work and responsibility, not recklessness.

President Obama's insight and vision for the United States is one where America continues its legacy, fulfills its promise to our seniors, and prepares future generations to succeed in a 21st century global economy.  While President Obama has tackled the huge challenges facing the country when he took office, he needs four more years to continue moving our country forward.

To learn more about the President’s accomplishments on behalf of the middle class, click here.

As we celebrate Black History Month, we are celebrating the contributions, sacrifices and triumphs of people who dared to dream and renewing our commitment to re-electing President Obama.  When he ran for President, Barack Obama vowed to return to the traditional American values of rewarding hard work, responsibility and fairness.  He took great steps to ensure that our country cares for our greatest generation, and looks out for the people who care for our greatest generation.

Founded by women of color, United Long Term Care Workers (ULTCW) represents the home care providers and nursing home workers who have provided care to our nation’s most vulnerable citizens since 1999.  However, as ULTCW and other home care unions have meet the needs of an aging population, an out of date law has denied home care providers the same protections afforded to the rest of Americans.

Since 1974, home care workers have been exempted from coverage under the Fair Labor Standards Act and consequently home care workers have not been entitled to minimum wage or overtime pay.  But President Obama worked with Pauline Beck (who he walked a day in the shoes of back in 2007) to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to include the nearly 2 million homecare workers currently excluded from basic wage standards.

Amending this regulation ensures that home care workers – of which 92% are women and nearly 30% are African American - are protected under the law.  Not only has Obama upheld his promise to ensure that home care work is valued, but he’s ensuring that millions of Americans who need care are not forgotten. 

No one said that change would be easy or that it would happen overnight.  But President Obama is moving our country in the right direction, and we must stand behind our President once more and work with him to build an America that lasts.

To learn more about the Presidents accomplishments on behalf of working families, click here.

I support President Barack Obama because he cares about the American people, he understands that millions of Americans have been suffering during this tough economy, and he’s taken action to turn our country around. When he took office, the economy was failing drastically, but he got straight to work and we’re now seeing the fruits of his labor.

The economy has added jobs for almost two straight years, and the American auto industry is coming back, adding jobs along the way. While we aren’t out of the woods yet, it’s clear that things are moving in the right direction. But the President didn’t stop after rescuing the economy. He has continued to fight for the middle class and lay a foundation for an economy that is built to last.  

President Obama pushed for the earned income tax credit that is putting money back in the pockets of 2.2 million African American families. He’s fought for a year-long extension of the payroll tax cut which benefits 160 million Americans; he extended unemployment benefits that assist people who are out of work; and he’s been committed to making sure minority small businesses get a fair shake. In fact, his administration has helped African American small businesses secure more than $3 billion in contracts and financing.

Those are just a few of the reasons why I am proud to pledge my support for President Obama’s continued leadership of this great country. To find out more of his accomplishments that are taking us in the right direction, click here. 

President Obama’s election was a historic moment in our country’s history, but that’s not why I’m supporting his re-election. In three short years, he has turned our country around after eight disastrous years of failed policies that nearly drove us into another Great Depression. When the President took office, we were losing more than 750,000 jobs a month, our financial system was on the brink, the big three automakers were going bankrupt and millions of Americans were watching the value of their homes plummet. 

Instead of just hoping things got better, President Obama aced and we’re now seeing the rewards of his leadership. The economy is creating jobs again – we’ve had 23 straight months of private sector job growth that added 3.7 million jobs.  For the first time in nearly two decades, manufacturers are creating jobs and Detroit is roaring back, creating jobs and adding extra shifts.

During his first term, President Obama has also delivered on a host of campaign promises that are taking the country in the right direction.  Before the President signed the healthcare bill into law, one in five African Americans didn’t have health insurance, but thanks to his perseverance 32 million more Americans will be able to get the health care they need.  We also can’t forget that the very first bill he signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Act, which guarantees equal pay for equal work. He appointed two female Supreme Court Justice Nominees, ended Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and brought our troops home from Iraq.

So you see it’s not that the President should get re-elected because of who he is (although he is a fine role model to millions of Americans). He should get re-elected because he has earned it. We have come a long way in his first term, but there’s still a long way to go before our country is completely back on track, and there is nobody more qualified to finish the job than President Obama. And that’s why I’m behind him, 100% of the way.

To learn more about why President Obama deserves to be re-elected, click here.

I am proud to support President Barack Obama, because he has been a fair and honest leader during one of the most trying times for our country. When he took office, the economy was in crisis, shedding more than 750,000 jobs a month. But the President helped avert another Great Depression and has turned things around, putting the country on a path to long-term prosperity. Not only has the economy added private-sector jobs for 23 straight months and created 3.7 million jobs, but the President has also restored a sense of fairness and responsibility that was sorely lacking.

In addition to his great public-policy accomplishments, one of the most remarkable characteristics of President Obama is his cool nature under pressure and desire to get the job done. He has had to work with a hostile Republican Congress that is more concerned with making him a one-term president than getting anything done to benefit the country. They have tried to block every one of the President’s proposals despite his repeated attempts to find compromise on some of the most pressing issues we face. But despite their attempts to demean him or even heckle him during the State of the Union, he has risen above it all. In these difficult times, I admire our President for taking on the most difficult tasks with grace, dignity, and tenacity.

My family has been involved in Democratic politics since the 1960s. My mother was even a committeewoman back in the day and attended the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Supporting President Obama is a natural extension of our commitment to the Democratic Party, and I am committed to helping the President serve a second term. There is still much work to be done to get our country back on track, and we cannot afford to turn back the clock. President Obama is the right man for the job, and we need to stand with him and keep moving our country forward.

To learn more about the President’s accomplishments and how he wants to move the country in the right direction, click here.

My support for President Barack Obama goes deeper than politics.  I am extremely proud of all he has accomplished. He is taking our country in the right direction but he is much more than his legislative accomplishments.

The very first bill the President signed was the Lilly Ledbetter Act, which ensures that women receive equal pay for equal work.  He stopped the country from slipping into a depression and turned the economy around.  We’ve added nearly 3.7 million private sector jobs in his administration, and have had 23 straight months of job growth.

The President also made fundamental reforms to K-12 education so more kids can realize the dream of going to college, and he made it easier for students to pay for college once they get there. He also passed landmark health care legislation making health care more affordable for families and small businesses, and has brought much-needed transparency and accountability to the insurance industry. 

Aside from his legislative accomplishments, I support President Obama because he honors the legacy of our African American heroes and continues to be an inspiration to millions of young kids.  He’s living proof that if you study hard and play by the rules, you can accomplish all of your dreams.  And despite all of the pressures of being President of the United States, he still makes time to be a wonderful father and a loving husband.  In a world that sometimes sheds only on the negative, it is good to see that he is one of many exceptions.  I stand with the President because he sets an example through his politics and personal life for the rest of the country and he deserves a 2^nd term to keep fighting for the American people. 

To learn more about the President’s accomplishments, click here.

Black History Month is a time to proudly reflect upon the accomplishments of African Americans in this great country.  And this year, I think it’s appropriate to touch on President Obama’s tremendous accomplishments in the face of dogged opposition.  A lot of people like to say that he should have done more, but if you take a step back; you realize that he’s had some major accomplishments.

Under his watch, we’ve seen 23 straight months of uninterrupted job growth and we’ve added 3.7 million private sector jobs.  He saved the auto industry and more than one million jobs it supports.  And contrary to the Republican spin, he has not raised taxes.  In fact, he’s fought to cut taxes for millions of Americans.

He understands that the middle class has been struggling for a while now, and that it’s time we focus on creating good paying jobs, and rewarding hard work.  The President has also fought to provide access to affordable health care, a quality education, and lower tuition costs.

Thanks to our Commander-in-Chief, Osama Bin Laden is no longer a threat to our country.  He ended the war in Iraq and has started to end the war in Afghanistan.  Moreover, our President has repealed Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.  And while Republicans like to complain about the debt, they conveniently forget that that they ran up the debt to finance two wars.

President Obama has not been reluctant to impose sanctions on Iran for threatening our allies by building nuclear weapons, and he’s stood up for freedom and democracy in the face of evil dictators.

While it hasn’t been easy, when you reflect on the President’s first term, you realize that he has stepped up to the plate.  But his work isn’t finished and that’s why we need to do everything possible to give him another four years to finish the job.

To read more about the President’s accomplishments, click here.

Barack Obama is a bold, courageous president who has addressed the huge issues facing the American people. He came into the White House in January 2009 under the worst political and economic conditions since the Great Depression—two wars, the loss of 750,000 jobs a month, Wall Street on the verge of collapse, and an inherited trillion-dollar deficit. 

In his first two years in office, President Obama secured major legislative victories, the likes of which have not been seen since President Lyndon Johnson. In his first two years, he successfully enacted the Recovery Act, which created more than 3 million jobs and saved two of the Big 3 automakers. He passed education reform with Race to the Top and invested in our infrastructure. 

The President passed health care reform, overhauled the financial sector to help protect consumers, repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and secured a New START Treaty. The President ended the war in Iraq, helped allies overthrow a dictator in Libya, expanded SCHIP—the child's health insurance program—to include 4 million new kids, and he put two women on the Supreme Court who we can all be proud of.   

The miracle is that he accomplished these legislative successes with either little or no help from the Republican Party, the party that put us on the brink in the first place. It's been difficult to move legislation throughout the Republican-led House, but his accomplishments in the first three years of his administration more than exceed the records of presidents who have served longer terms. What President Barack Obama has done in his first term deserves to be rewarded—with a second term.

To read more of the President’s accomplishments, click here.

I proudly support President Obama because he has the leadership, vision and belief to understand that we need an economy that creates opportunities for all people, not just the privileged few. From day one, the President focused on building an economy that is built to last, where hard work and being responsible pay off instead of risky bets that help those at the top, but hurt millions. After eight disastrous years of looking out for Wall Street, we're now paying more attention to helping Main Street and the small businesses that are the engine of our economy.

Thanks to President Obama, the worst abuses of mortgage companies, credit card companies and payday lenders are being reigned in. The Wall Street reform bill he signed will prevent future bailouts, and put some common sense rules of the road in the places that will protect consumers. The President has made it clear that boosting American manufacturing is critical to putting people back to work. But we’ll need a well-educated population if we have any hopes of competing with the rest of the world so he’s raised education standards, helped make college more affordable and invested in community colleges that provide the training for many of the manufacturing jobs we will create.

It's rewarding to witness President Obama utilize his exceptional intellect on behalf of the people of America. When I think of his steady and uncompromising leadership I'm reminded of these words, "we owe so much to those who walked ahead, who kept the faith, who carried the lamb of freedom for us all." President Obama never lost his faith in the American people, and that’s why we need to keep the faith in him. We need to do everything possible to re-elect the President and help him finish the job he started in 2008.

To get more information about how the President is trying to build an economy that’s built to last, click here.