Obama: 100 Days By Our Times and The Post

The Los Angeles Times ran two stories pertaining to President Obama in the paper today. The first ran inside the Nation's section about China's concerns over US bonds. The Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said he was "definitely a little worried" to which Obama responded less than a day later he has "absolute confidence" in US Treasury Bonds. The story is less important than the front page story in the California section because his statement was made yesterday and it doesn't have the proximity factor.

Obama will name six new federal judges for California and "court-watchers are recalling his promises to make bi-partisanship selections with 'empathy' and 'heart'". Apparently, Bush conservatively appointed three of the state's four district courts during his presidency so Obama most likely won't affect them because those judges still need to finish their terms, but the San Francisco based appeals court has two vacant chairs and one opening early next year. It is here we will most likely see Obama's "stamp on the judiciary".


The Washington Post ran a story on a Food Safety Working Group that will upgrade food safety laws. He criticized the Bush administration for his lack of food safety policies that would protect the public's health. He named former New York City health chief Margaret A. Hamburg as his new Food and Drug Administration commissioner. Next, Obama will be asking Congress for $1 billion in funds for the agricultural department.


The New York Times ran a front page story about Obama's search for a new pastor after he "cut ties to the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. in the heat of the presidential campaign". He has found five "evangelical pastors for private prayer sessions on the telephone and for discussions on the role of religion in politics". The White House refused to comment,but all five pastors have been quoted in the story. It is certainly a novel story that is more of an interest piece than a formal story.


Photo: Will Shilling/Associated Press

Rev. Jim Wallis (above): “He and I were what we called back then ‘progressive Christians,’ as opposed to the dominant religious-right era we were in then. We didn’t think Jesus’ top priorities would be capital gains tax cuts and supporting the next war.”

Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Asosociated Press

Rev. Kirbyjon H. Caldwell (above): “While he may not put ‘Honk if You Love Jesus’ bumper stickers on the back of his car, he is the kind of guy who practices what he preaches.” “He has a desire to keep in touch with folk outside the Beltway, and to stay in touch with God. He seems to see those as necessary conditions for maintaining his internal compass.”

Photo: John Raoux/Associated Press

Rev. Joel C. Hunter (above): “The times I have prayed with him, he’s always initiated it.”

Photo: Mickey Welsh/Montgomery Advertiser

Rev. Otis Moss Jr. (above): “I would simply say that he is a person of great faith, and I think that faith has sustained him.”

Photo: Ron Phillips/TriStar Pictures

Bishop T.D. Jakes (above): “You take turns praying. It’s really more about contacting God than each other.”

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