Weekly Wrap Up: “Encouraging News… Not Good Enough”

Posted by White House

A quick look at the week of October 1, 2010:

Quote: “Encouraging news… not good enough” - President Obama on October jobs report: http://wh.gov/3Hi

The Way Forward: Following the election, the President speaks openly in a press conference about his hope for working with the new Congress going forward on the economy and other issues: http://wh.gov/3A8

Your West Wing Week Video: “Don’t Watch the Plasma Arc” http://wh.gov/3sW

The President's Trip to Asia: Jeff Bader, Senior Director for Asian Affairs, and Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, talk about the President’s upcoming trip to India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan in a live video chat: http://wh.gov/3AR and Dan Pfeiffer debunks myths about warships: http://wh.gov/3sw

National Weatherization Day: Find out what's happening nationwide to save money for America’s homeowners by investing in energy efficiency: http://wh.gov/3Gw

October in Photos: A glimpse through the eyes of Pete Souza, Chief Official White House photographer, with this month’s photo of the day gallery (more like the shot below): http://wh.gov/3GT

Calling the Giants: Behind-the-scenes video of the President calling the San Francisco Giants to congratulate them on their World Series win: http://wh.gov/3sf

TEACH: Reggie Love, Personal Aide to the President, talks about his favorite teacher in this video (HINT: It's not his football coach or his basketball coach): http://bit.ly/aKPiu2 Learn more at Teach.gov

Must See WHTV: New Media interns dig into 1,500 White House videos and emerge with their top 10 favorites. Watch them here: http://wh.gov/3HW

Cabinet Meeting: A download on the Cabinet meeting this week: http://wh.gov/3oK and a behind-the-scenes "Inside the White House" video: http://wh.gov/3CN

What You Missed: Tuesday Talk on the President’s Trip to Asia

Posted by White House

This week we sat down with Jeff Bader, Senior Director for Asian Affairs, and Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, to talk about the President’s upcoming trip to India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan. On WhiteHouse.gov and Facebook, you asked questions on a range of topics from outsourcing jobs to “hot button” issues surrounding China to the President’s plans for Diwali in India. Watch their responses by using the links below to jump directly to the questions that you're interested in or watch the full video of the chat. Check back for full coverage of the President’s trip on WhiteHouse.gov.

Use the links below to jump directly to a question (questions are paraphrased).

• Opening remarks
• How are going to help boost American exports to Asian countries?
• Where will you visit in Japan?
• Will the President’s trip to Indonesia afford any opportunities to see friends or relatives?
• Do you anticipate the President addressing North Korea’s arsenal during the trip?
• What does the Administration expect to achieve during the trip?
• Does this mean more outsourcing of US jobs for more profits?
• Is increasing military presence in the region the best way for the U.S. to renew leadership?
• Will the President delve into hot-button issues surrounding China during the trip?
• During the trip, will health issues be a focus?
• What are some of the long term goals for U.S. – India relations?
• Could there be a collaborative International effort on clean energy?
• Why did President Obama cancel his trip to the Sikh temple during his trip to Asia?
• What dates will the President be in India, and what will he be doing for Diwali?
• How is the U.S. Government planning to collaborate with the Indian Government on Agriculture?
• Will the President address Intellectual Property Rights issues during the trip?
• Why is President Obama spending one day in Indonesia as opposed to four days in India?
• What are the logistical challenges of planning an international trip such as the upcoming Asia trip?

Check out what you missed in previous Tuesday Talks:
Tuesday Talk with David Axelrod
Tuesday Talk with Austan Goolsbee
Tuesday Talk with Elizabeth Warren
Tuesday Talk with the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities

Tuesday Talks: The President’s Upcoming Trip to India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan

Posted by White House

On Friday, President Obama will depart for a ten-day trip starting in India, followed by Indonesia, South Korea (for the G20 Summit in Seoul) and Japan (for the APEC Summit in Yokohama). Jeff Bader, Senior Director for Asian Affairs, and Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, will be answering your questions about President Obama's travel in a live video chat.

In a press briefing last week, Rhodes discussed this trip as a part of the President’s Asia strategy, "a renewed engagement of the United States in Asia that is founded upon our core alliances in the region...We see this very much in the context of the focus we put on Asia as a region of the world with the most dynamic and growing markets that are going to be fundamental to our export initiative of doubling exports in the world, but also fundamental to a number of political and security concerns that will a subject of the President’s travel."

Join us for a talk with Jeff Bader and Ben Rhodes on Tuesday, November 2nd at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

Here's how you can participate:

• Ask your questions in advance on Facebook
• Join the discussion live through the White House Facebook application
• Watch the chat through WhiteHouse.gov/live

And check out what you missed for past Tuesday Talks:

• Tuesday Talk with David Axelrod
• Tuesday Talk with Austan Goolsbee
• The President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities
• Tuesday Talk with Elizabeth Warren

Introducing First Question

Posted by White House

Most people who have watched a daily press briefing from the White House Press Secretary have probably thought at one time or another “I’d like to ask the White House a question!”

Well, here's your chance! Today we launched a new type of online engagement called "First Question" that uses Twitter to collect your questions for the WH Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to answer. Here's a video of today's answer:

While we'll constantly look for ways to improve it, here's how First Question will work for now:

1. In the morning, Robert will ask for that day's questions in a post to his @PressSec Twitter account. Although this won't happen everyday, it will be pretty frequently so be sure to subscribe to his account and the WhiteHouse's main Twitter account (@WhiteHouse) to find out when it does.
2. Once he's posted, anyone can fire away with questions using the hashtag #1q.
3. Over the next hour or two we'll collect all of the questions, record his answers and post the video.

Even though every question can't get answered (looks like over 300 tweets with #1q were posted today) we'll try to choose questions from a broad variety of perspectives. But even the questions we can't get to are tremendously valuable to understanding what's on people's minds.

And while everyone here is excited about this new type of online engagement, it's worth pointing out that there are even more opportunities to ask questions and learn about what's happening at the White House. In fact, in a few minutes (at 7pmEDT), the Official White House photographer, Pete Souza, is going to take your questions about some of the photos he's snapped and on Tuesday next week at 1pm EDT, Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, and Jeff Bader, Senior Director for Asian Affairs, will chat about the President’s upcoming foreign travel.

There are constantly new events being set up, and the best way to stay current is to subscribe to the White House's Daily Snapshot.

Whether it's using Google Moderator to vote on YouTube questions for President Obama, Facebook to chat with David Axelrod or Twitter to take a crack at Robert Gibbs, we're constantly looking for new ways to use technology to connect Americans with their White House. And if you have any ideas or feedback along these lines, we'd love to hear it -- in the spirit of this post, you can reach me at @macon44.

Answering Your Questions on Energy and Afghanistan

Posted by White House

Recently, President Obama participated in a live town hall with young people from across the country sponsored by MTV, BET, and CMT -- taking questions from the audience and Twitter on a variety of topics.

On Friday we brought you the first installment of video answers to questions that the President didn’t have a chance to get to during the town hall event. Below are two more, this time from Heather Zichal, Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, and another answer from Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor. Be sure to check back throughout the week for more questions and answers!

What measures are you taking toward an integrated relationship with military leadership for policy decisions in Afghanistan?

What will you do to encourage alternative energy and clean technology?

Tuesday Talks: David Axelrod

Posted by White House

David Axelrod, Senior Advisor to the President, is answering your questions in a live video chat on WhiteHouse.gov on Tuesday, October 26th at 1:00 p.m. EDT

Axelrod has been with the President in the White House since day one and knows his perspective on major policy issues across the board. Ask Axe your questions about the economy, health care, energy -- or whatever else is on your mind.

Join us for a talk with David Axelrod on Tuesday, October 26th at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

Here's how you can participate:

• Ask your questions in advance on Facebook
• Join the discussion live through the White House Facebook application
• Watch the chat through WhiteHouse.gov/live

Tune in for upcoming talks:

Tuesday, November 2 at 1:00 p.m. EDT: Talk with Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, and Jeff Bader, Senior Director for Asian Affairs, on the President’s upcoming foreign travel.

And check out past Tuesday Talks:

• What You Missed: Tuesday Talk with Austan Goolsbee
• What You Missed: Tuesday Talk with The President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities
• What You Missed: Tuesday Talk with Elizabeth Warren

You Asked, We Answered

Posted by White House

Last week, President Obama participated in a live town hall with young people from across the country sponsored by MTV, BET, and CMT. The President took questions from young people in the audience and questions submitted via Twitter. While the President answered as many questions as he could on topics ranging from education to jobs and the economy, there were many of questions from the audience and Twitter that he didn’t have a chance to answer.

We thought it would be a good idea to follow up with answers to some of your questions that the President didn’t have a chance to answer. Check out the videos below from Melody Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council, and Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor, answering questions about education policy and foreign aid.

We’ll be posting more video answers from senior White House officials over the next week, so be sure to check back!

What are your thoughts on extremely high dropout rates in American high schools?