Seeing President Barack Obama is such a bittersweet experience. People are so happy to see his intelligence, thoughtfulness, compassion. Then almost immediately, they long to have him return and pull the country out of such chaos. Obama returned to speak the Democratic freshman members of Congress. They were moved, and this is what this time meant for 44.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) hosted President Obama, and he brought her flowers for her birthday. He noted that this was a “young diverse class.” It should come as no surprise that many of the new people came from this president’s campaign and his administration. In fact, he honored them by saying that they had picked up “the torch” of service to the United States of America:
‘Last night I had the chance to meet with first-term Democrats in Congress—it’s a young, diverse class, stocked with a bunch of my campaign and administration alums who’ve taken the torch. This group is going to be driving progress for a long time to come.’
Speaker Pelosi has been one of, if not the most gifted House speaker’s in the history of the U.S. The president pointed out what it was that he saw in her, that she “combines a passion for doing what’s right…along with a toughness:”
‘The reason I love Nancy is because she combines a passion for doing what’s right for our country and our kids, along with a toughness that can’t be matched on the Hill.’
Obama told the new lawmakers that they needed to figure out an issue that they care so much about that “they’d be willing to lose their seat for them,” according to CNN. He explained to him the “tremendous legislative hurdles” he encountered with his signature legislation — the Affordable Care Act (ADA/Obamacare).
He also spoke to them about the great patriot Senator John McCain. The president encouraged them to go after big bold ideas, reinvent and improve the country’s social institutions, and update the economy.
Most of all, he reminded them that their constituent services were the most important of all. Thanks, Obama.
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