President Praises Budding Scientists

President Obama honored promising science and math students at the White House Monday with a reception and science fair aimed at highlighting the administration-wide goal of improving American students’ standing in the fields.

The science fair consisted of projects from the winners of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) competitions, and featured both research and inventions.

During the reception, the President noted that while athletes from winning teams are typically invited to the White House, academic achievements often don’t receive the recognition they deserve, an idea he had initially voiced during the November 2009 launch of the Educate to Innovate campaign.

“To all the young people who are here, I could not be prouder of you,” Obama said. “I expect some of you to be back here as Nobel Prize winners.”

Powell: Obama Must Focus More On Jobs

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell told NBC’s ‘Meet The Press’ on Sunday that the man he endorsed in 2008, President Barack Obana, is losing the confidence of voters.

“I think he has lost some of his ability to connect during the campaign. It’s not just me picking on the president, it’s reflected in the polling,” Powell said. “Some of the anxiety and anger that you see out there, I think, comes from a belief on the part of the American people — whether it’s correct or incorrect, and the White House would say it’s incorrect — that not enough attention (is being paid to jobs) … his singular focus should be on unemployment.”

Sanders Welcomes Warren To Consumer Protection Bureau

Sources are reporting today that President Barack Obama will soon name Elizabeth Warren as a special adviser to the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Warren, who currently chairs the Congressional Oversight Panel, which has monitored the TARP program, will not need to be confirmed by the Senate.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) applauded the decision to appoint Warren to the agency.

“At a time when the working families of this country are profoundly disgusted by the greed, recklessness and illegal behavior of Wall Street, I applaud President Obama for appointing a tough and brilliant advocate to head the new Financial Consumer Protection Bureau.  The American people are tired of being ripped off by large banks and financial institutions and, in Professor Warren, they finally will have someone in a position of power who can protect their interests.”

Obama Pleased With Hiker's Release

President Barack Obama made the following statement today after the release of Sarah Shourd, one of three American hikers detained in Iran on espionage allegations:

“I am very pleased that Sarah Shourd has been released by the Iranian government, and will soon be united with her family. All Americans join with her courageous mother and family in celebrating her long-awaited return home. We are grateful to the Swiss, the Sultanate of Oman, and other friends and allies around the world who have worked tirelessly and admirably over the past several months to bring about this joyous reunion.

“While Sarah has been released, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal remain prisoners in Iran who have committed no crime.  We remain hopeful that Iran will demonstrate renewed compassion by ensuring the return of Shane, Josh and all the other missing or detained Americans in Iran.  We salute the courage and strength of the Shourd, Bauer, and Fattal families, who have endured the unimaginable absence of their loved ones.  We have gained strength from their resolve, and will continue do everything we can to secure the release of their loved ones.”

Added U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, “I welcome Sarah Shourd’s release from detention in Iran, and am pleased that she will soon be reunited with her family. I appreciate the efforts of all those who have worked for her release, in particular the Swiss Protecting Power in Tehran, the Omani Government, and the many other world leaders who have raised this case and the cases of other detained or missing American citizens. Sarah’s fiancé Shane Bauer, Joshua Fattal, and other U.S. citizens remain detained or missing in Iran. We urge Iranian authorities to extend the same consideration to them by resolving their cases without delay and allowing them to immediately return to their families.”

Former President Goes On The Attack For Strickland

Former President Bill Clinton is in Ohio today to campaign for Governor Ted Strickland (D). Strickland, who is seeking re-election this November, is trailing badly in the polls behind his opponent, former House Budget Chairman John Kasich (R).

In an email this morning, Clinton blasted Kasich over his opposition to the former’s economic policies during the 90’s.

“Back in 1993, I proposed a plan that balanced the federal budget and helped us create those 23 million jobs,” Clinton said. “But Congressman Kasich called my plan a “job killer.” In fact, Kasich said he’d “have to become a Democrat” if the plan worked! Well, even after we created 23 million jobs, Congressman Kasich is still a Republican.”

Kasich, said Clinton, “has the wrong ideas for how to grow our economy and create jobs.”

Clinton’s visit to Ohio today comes a week after President Obama traveled to Ohio to deliver a speech on the economy. Obama spent some time with Strickland that day, and will stump for the Governor again in late October.