Obama's Speech at Chicago Cultural Center Fundraiser

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT A DNC FINANCE EVENT

Chicago Cultural Center
Chicago, Illinois

5:30 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, hello, hello! Thank you. Thank you so much, everybody. Hello, hello! It is good to be back in Chicago! (Applause.) Somebody has got the "Obama 44" license plate. (Applause.) Thank you, everybody. Thank you so much. What a wonderful birthday gift to be back home with so many good friends. (Applause.)

There are a number of people I just want to make mention of. You probably have already heard from them, but I want you to know how much I appreciate what they are doing each and every day -- outstanding leadership, leadership that's going to move this country forward. First of all, our wonderful governor and the next lieutenant governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn and Sheila Simon. Give them both big rounds of applause. (Applause.)

Dear friend who fights each and every day on behalf of working families across her district, this state, and the country -- Jan Schakowsky is in the house. (Applause.) Senate President John Cullerton is here. (Applause.) One of the smartest guys in the state legislature and one of the funniest as well. (Laughter.) And did great work with me when I was in the state senate.

We've got the next Congressman from Illinois' 10th congressional district -- Dan Seals in the house. (Applause.) There's Dan. I want to thank the preprogram speakers Sheena Patton from Organizing For America -- (applause) -- and Morgan McClelland, who is a first-time voter. I like that. (Applause.)

And I've got a few things to say about Alexi. (Applause.) Before I do that, though, one other person who actually wasn't on my sheet but I see her right in front so I have to say something. This was -- this is I guess still my state representative, almost -- I'm right at the border. But also was a great friend for a very long time and is a wonderful leader in the House of Representatives -- Barbara Flynn Currie. So I just wanted to acknowledge Barb. (Applause.)

Now, I see so many good friends who've been with me since I was skinnier -- (laughter) -- less gray -- (laughter) -- and when nobody could pronounce my name. (Laughter.) And I know that if it weren't for you, I might not be standing here tonight as President.

I am reminded of the story Abraham Lincoln told about a guy who comes to the White House, insists on seeing the President. He says, I worked tirelessly on the President's behalf and he was seeking a patronage job and he insisted on an audience. And finally, Lincoln says, okay.

The guy comes in, he says, I am responsible -- if it weren't for me, you would not be President. And Lincoln says, I forgive you. (Laughter.) It's a true story.

It is an extraordinary honor and privilege to be able to serve. And I'm able to serve because of you. I'm also proud to be here tonight with the next senator from the state of Illinois, and that's Alexi Giannoulias. (Applause.)

I want to say to everybody here, Alexi is my friend. I know his character. I know how much he loves this country. I know how committed he is to public service. I know he is in this race for the right reasons. I know he has been a great advocate on behalf of the people of Illinois.

He's not in this to help lobbyists or special interests. He's not one of those politicians who's going to put out his finger to the wind to see which way it's blowing. He is somebody who is committed to you. You can trust him. He is going to be an outstanding senator, and I need you to fight for him so he can fight for you in Washington -- because we've got a lot of work to do. (Applause.)

Now, look, the last few years have been incredibly challenging. Over -- almost 20 months ago, I stood in the Capitol and was sworn in as the President. And that month -- some of you might have been there -- it was cold, remember? (Laughter.) It was cold, but a hopeful day.

But even as everybody was feeling that sense of hope and optimism, we had lost almost 800,000 jobs in that month alone. The economy was contracting at about 6 percent. Ultimately we discovered that we lost 8 million jobs in this recession -- the worst by far since the Great Depression. And had we not taken some steps immediately to address the crisis, we might have tipped into a second Great Depression.

Now, this would have caused enough hardship, but it was also compounded by the fact that we had had 10 years of sluggish growth, 10 years of inadequate job production, 10 years of incomes and wages that were flat-lining even as the costs for middle-class families were going up on everything from health care to tuition.

So the middle class, working families across America, were already feeling under enormous pressure. A lot of them were just barely hanging on, and then suddenly this storm sweeps in.

In the last six months of 2008 alone, 3 million Americans lost their jobs. And so these aren't just statistics. Behind each of these numbers is a story of heartache and frustration. A factory worker who might have just been a few years short of retiring -- suddenly he's lost his job, maybe he's lost his pension. A single mom who's sent out job applications to everywhere she can think of -- she's still waiting for the phone to ring day after day after day. A college graduate who thought her degree would land her a good job with a decent paycheck -- suddenly all she's got is a mountain of debt.

I hear these stories every day. I read them in letters each night. I hear them when I'm on the road traveling. These struggles -- but also the hope of these Americans -- are why I ran for office in the first place. That's why we're going to work as hard as we can as long as it takes to turn this economy around and move this country forward. That's why I'm here. That is our goal. (Applause.)

But we're not going to be able to get to where we need to go unless we understand how in fact we got here. We spent nearly 10 years on an economic agenda that was pretty straightforward: You cut taxes for the wealthiest among us, folks who didn't need tax cuts and weren't even asking for them; you cut rules for special interests; and you cut working folks loose so they've got to fend for themselves.

That was the philosophy of the last administration and that was the philosophy of their friends in Congress. And basically what they said is, if you can't find a job, tough luck -- you're on your own. If you don't have health insurance, too bad, tough luck -- you're on your own. If you're a young person who's trying to get to college, tough luck -- you're on your own.

Now, if you're a Wall Street bank or an insurance company or an oil company like BP, then you can write your own rules. And we know how this turned out.

So when we came into office, we said we are going to have a whole new approach. We want an economic plan that rewards hard work instead of greed; that rewards responsibility instead of recklessness; a plan that's more focused on securing the middle class and making our country more competitive for the global economy.

And we know there are other countries fighting for the jobs of the future, countries like China and India. And if we don't have the best education system in the country, if we don't have the most college graduates in the country [sic], if we don't have -- if we don't have the most productive research and development in the world, then we're not going to make it.

And I -- I tell you this: The United States of America does not play for second place. We are going to rebuild this economy better and stronger than it was before. (Applause.) And at the heart of our economic plan is three powerful words: Made In America. We want to start making things here in the United States and selling things to other countries and creating good jobs and opportunity right here. (Applause.)

So instead of spending money for tax breaks that we can't afford, we're making smart investments in education and R&D and innovation and clean energy, so we're building wind turbines and solar panels and biodiesel plants that will point us towards a clean energy future.

Instead of giving special interests free reign to do what they please, we're demanding new accountability from Wall Street to Washington so that -- everybody -- big corporations have play by the same rules as small businesses and as workers do. That's only fair.

Now, if you're unemployed or you can't pay the bills, I know the only plan you want to hear about is getting a job right now. And I wish I could stand here and tell you that there's a way to bring back all the jobs that were lost overnight; that the economy right away is going to get back to full strength.

And between now and November, you're going to hear a lot of promises from a lot of politicians. And they're going to be saying to you, you know what, if we just do this, or we just do that, all your problems will be solved. I can't do that because not only did I run for President promising that I wouldn't just tell you what you want to hear, but tell you what you need to know. But now that I am President, and the sober realities of this job are ones that I've experienced over the last two years, I will tell you, I can't stand here and just tell you what you want to hear. We're going to have to work our way out of this hole that's been dug. It's going to take time.

But here's what I also know. Even though it's going to take years to repair all the damage caused by this recession, I am absolutely convinced that this nation is finally headed in the right direction. Our economy is growing again. (Applause.) We are adding jobs again. America is moving forward again, and the last thing we can afford to do is go back to the policies that got us into this mess in the first place! (Applause.)

That's the choice in this election. You've got a pretty simple choice. Either you can support those policies that got us into this mess, or you can support those policies that are getting us out of the mess. (Applause.)

Think about it. Think about it. This is not a situation in which the Republicans -- after everything that they did to take record surpluses into record deficits, after all the failed policies that resulted ultimately in the worst recession since the 1930s, it's not as if they went back and they said, you know what, let's reflect on what we did wrong. (Laughter.) You know, obviously, there were some problems there, let's see if we've got a different set of theories about how we should approach the economy, and how we should look after the middle class.

I mean that would be one thing if they had kind of gone off in the wilderness, they meditated. (Laughter.) They came back, they said, we've learned from our mistakes. We've got a whole new set of approaches -- a whole new set of policies. But they're not saying that.

They have not come up with a single, solitary idea that is any different from the policies of George W. Bush, the policies that they had in place for eight years before we had a crisis. (Applause.) What they are betting on is amnesia. (Laughter.) They are betting that you don't remember that they were in charge all this time. (Applause.) I think Pat may have mentioned to you, they're trying to get you to forget that they drove the car into the ditch. (Laughter.)

And after we've pushed it out, now they're saying, "Give us the keys back." (Laughter.) But we don't -- we haven't forgotten, because we've got mud on our shoes, our back is sore from pushing that car out of the ditch. (Applause.) I mean, if they want to get in the back seat, that's okay. (Laughter.) But we're not going to put them behind the wheel. (Laughter.)

I pointed out at lunch today -- also just to carry this metaphor a little further -- (laughter) -- when you get in your car and you want to go forward, you put it in what?

AUDIENCE: "D!"

THE PRESIDENT: "D." (Laughter.) When you want to go backwards, what do you do? You put it in "R." (Applause.)

So that's the choice. (Applause.) That's the choice we're facing. This is the choice we're facing. This is the choice we're facing. We want to take away tax breaks for companies that are shipping jobs overseas and give those tax breaks to companies that are investing here in the United States of America. (Applause.) They've got a different vision.

We've already cut taxes for small businesses eight times. Right now there's a debate in the Senate as we speak. We want to eliminate capital gains for small businesses and help them with getting more credit. And the Republicans are saying, "Just say no."

We believe in jumpstarting a homegrown, clean energy industry -- because I don't want us to be second to China or Germany or anybody else when it comes to the clean energy technologies of the future putting Americans back to work. (Applause.) We have -- we've already made investments that will lead to 800,000 clean energy jobs by 2012. But you know what? The other side, they'll have none of it.

We want to invest in the 21st century infrastructure of high-speed rail and broadband and a smart grid that can make our electric system more efficient. They don't want to see those investments made.

We've got plans to keep jobs in America not just for the short term, but over the long run. But on every single issue, just about, the other side has just said no. No to small business tax cuts. No to clean energy jobs. No to railroad and highway projects. That doesn't mean they don't show up at the ribbon-cuttings trying to take credit, even though they vote no. (Laughter.) They'll show up, cheesing and grinning in front of the camera. They'll be waving. (Laughter.)

But it's not just on these issues. It's not just on jobs issues. When we say that we want a country that's more equal, and so we're fighting for equal pay for equal work so that women are getting paid just the same as men -- (applause) -- we don't get help. When we said that it makes sense to reform our health insurance system so that people aren't left without health insurance because of a preexisting condition, and insurance companies can't drop you when you get sick, or impose an arbitrary lifetime limit, they said no.

In fact, the leader in the Republicans in the House, when asked, "What's your jobs plan," he said, "Repeal health care." I mean, now other than giving jobs for folks who want to deny you coverage, I don't know what kind of jobs plan that is.

On Wall Street reform -- here we have the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. We pass financial reform, have to eke it out with almost no help from the other side, except for a couple brave Republicans. And you're scratching your head saying, well, do they think that hidden fees in credit cards are good? Do they think that mortgage companies being able to steer you to unaffordable mortgages are a smart thing to do? Apparently so. (Laughter.) They must think that's good stuff.

Look, on each of these items, they want to take us backwards. They basically think that the status quo before all that we've been through over the last two and a half years is perfectly fine. I think we can do better. I think we can do better than that. (Applause.)

I think we can have an America in which our health care system works for all Americans and we're driving down costs. I think we can have a financial sector that is fair and productive and won't require taxpayer bailouts. I think we can have an America in which women are being treated just like men in the workplace. I think we can have an America in which tobacco companies aren't marketing their products to kids. (Applause.)

I think we can have an America -- an America in which people who work hard, who take pride in their job, who are responsible to their families, who are responsible for their communities, that they've got opportunity. An America in which our young people have a chance to get a first-class education and can go to college and are able to go on and make a career for themselves. (Applause.)

An America in which we are outcompeting every other country in the world and we are doubling exports, and in which the dynamism and innovation of this country continues throughout the 21st century just like it existed in the 20th century. All those things are possible. But this November is going to be a choice, and all of you are going to have to think about what kind of legacy are we going to leave for our kids.

We are at a crossroads here. We are not through. We are not out of the woods, and we are going to need your help. So to all of you who worked so hard to help me get elected, you've got to work just as hard to get Alexi elected. (Applause.) You've got to work just as hard to get our congressional candidates like Dan elected. (Applause.) You've got to work just as hard to get our Governor and Lieutenant Governor elected. (Applause.)

You've got to go out there and knock on doors. You've got to go out there and make phone calls. You've got to -- you've got to understand what's at stake here -- because the other side does. They are going to be well financed, and they are going to be working hard. They see this as their best opportunity to go back to the same system that they had in place all those years.

Now, ultimately, though, you know when I ran for office, a lot of people were skeptical that I could win the Senate. Obviously, people were skeptical we could win the presidency. There were times where I was skeptical. But the one thing I wasn't skeptical about was you, the American people.

I've always had confidence in you, that ultimately despite all the special interest ads -- and by the way, right now we've got a Supreme Court decision that's allowing uninhibited special interest spending on ads, and we've got legislation in the Senate and the House to try to fix this. But the other side, of course, is saying no. And we're going to keep on fighting to make sure that foreign corporations and big special interests can't just fund unlimited ads without even disclosing who they are.

But despite all that, I always have confidence that the American people can cut through the nonsense and ultimately do what's best not just for the next election, but for the next generation. (Applause.)

I have confidence in you. And so if you will stand with me, and if you will stand with all these outstanding candidates in the weeks to come, I promise you, we will work as hard as we have ever worked for as long as it takes to create the kind of America that our children and our grandchildren deserve.

God bless you, Chicago. (Applause.) God bless you, Illinois. God bless the United States of America.

Thank you, everybody. Thank you. (Applause.)

Obama Breaks Out the Bamboozle and the Okey-Doke

President Obama told Democratic fundraisers Monday that Republicans are banking on voters having "amnesia" in the midterm elections.

"They have not come up with a single, solitary, new idea to address the challenges of the American people," Obama said. "They don’t have a single idea that’s different from George Bush’s ideas — not one."

Americans don't have amnesia. Rather they suffer from attention deficit disorder--we like shiny things. After republican policies ran the nation into the ground, Americans are riding around on the republican bandwagon looking for ways to be austere. We've already been bamboozled.

"That’s what they’re counting on," Obama told a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Atlanta. "They’re counting on that you all forgot. They think that they can run the okey-doke on you. Bamboozle you." The Hill

Obama Speaks at Los Angeles Fundraisers

Obama aboard Marine One headed to LA

Obama is in Los Angeles for three fundraisers. I'll post video if it comes available, but these fundraisers aren't typically live streamed. Obama will return to D.C. late afternoon tomorrow:

President Barack Obama is telling California Democrats that their liberal Sen. Barbara Boxer might lose her re-election race unless they work hard for her campaign.

Obama delivered the stern warning Monday evening in Los Angeles at the first of a trio of fundraisers for Boxer and the Democratic Party.

Boxer is seeking a fourth term and has won big in the past in Democratic-friendly California. But she's facing a more difficult political environment this time around because of the shaky economy. More at AP

Update: Obama gets heckled by a gay rights group. Obama is fortunate in that he can get heckled from the left and the right.

Obama's got fire in his eyes. He shouldn't have to be heckled at a democratic fundraiser.

Obama to Speak in Miami at DNC Fundraiser April 15

Update: Read what Obama said at the fundraiser here.

Obama is headed to Miami where he'll speak at a DNC fundraiser at 7:10 pm eastern. These fundraisers generally aren't live streamed. Via Politico:

President Obama was set to attend two DNC fundraisers in Florida -- one at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and another at the home of Gloria and Emilio Estefan.

Obama Thanks New England Emergency Flood Workers

Obama in Maine

In between a health care rally and a pair of Democratic fundraisers, President Obama made a surprise stop in Framingham, Mass. Thursday evening to thank local workers coordinating the government’s response to the floods that have ravaged New England.

“When these kinds of natural disasters hit, what really matters is the people on the ground,” Obama told some 75 workers at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. “I just want to say thanks on behalf of the country as well.”

Obama spent about 15 minutes at the agency, where he received a briefing from Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. The two men chatted as they looked up at large maps and graphics depicting trouble spots, according to a pool report. Politico

Obama's in Boston raising money for the DNC:

President Obama is at the DNC fundraising dinner at the Boston Opera House, where about 150 people purchased tickets at a price of $32,400 per couple.

Before that, he was at a standing-room only event at the State Room in Boston, where about 800 people paid between $200 and $1,000 to attend. Politico

Obama Speaks at Bennet Fundraiser in Colorado

Obama speaks on behalf of Sen. Michael Bennet at 5:30 pm eastern.

President Barack Obama stops in Denver today to raise money for U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and other Democratic campaigns. He is expected to arrive at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora shortly before 3 p.m. and will depart about 5:30 p.m. The arrival and departure are not open to the public. The president will address a "Grassroots Rally" at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver before heading to a cocktail reception at the downtown Sheraton. Read more at the Denver Post

Obama Tours Solar Plant in Arcadia Florida Oct. 27

Update 10-27: Event over. See Obama's speech here.

Day 2 of Obama's visit to Florida: Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 12:10, Obama will visit the new DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center. It's the largest solar plant in the U.S. so far.

He'll speak from the plant around 12:25 pm eastern. It will be live streamed at cnn.com or whitehouse.gov/live.

Obama is also scheduled to rally for Creigh Deeds in Virginia Oct. 27 at 5 pm eastern:

The president will tour Florida Power & Light's new solar energy plant in Arcadia, which is being celebrated as the largest solar photovoltaic plant in the country, big enough to serve 3,000 homes.

Gov. Charlie Crist, who has widely celebrated the plant, will not attend. His spokeswoman said Friday that he has to be in Tallahassee for the state Cabinet meeting.

But political calculations are at work, too. Crist is seeking the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate, and standing with Obama could be a liability. He got savaged by conservatives for appearing with Obama in Fort Myers in February to support the economic stimulus plan and probably wants to avoid another round of publicity. Tampa Bay blog
A peek at the plant:

Update 10-26: President Obama and administration officials today will announce $3.4 billion in spending projects to modernize the nation's electric power system.

The president will offer details on funding for the "smart grid" during an appearance at a solar plant in Arcadia, Fla. White House officials said the projects would create tens of thousands of jobs in the near term and lay the groundwork for changing how Americans use and pay for energy.

The spending is aimed at improving the efficiency and reliability of the U.S. power supply, and helping to create markets for wind and solar power, officials said. They also said it would create "smart meters" to help consumers use electricity when demand is low and when rates are cheaper -- for example, by running dishwashers and other energy-thirsty appliances in the middle of the night.
LAT

Update: Watch Obama's speech in Jacksonville here.

Update 10-26: Obama will speak at 3:15 eastern to service men and women at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville. The speech will likely be live streamed at cnn.com. There will be live audio at WhiteHouse.gov/live.

Obama will tour the Naval Air Station Jacksonville Oct. 26 and then attend a DNC fundraiser in Miami Beach.

Obama Rallies for Chris Dodd in Connecticut

Obama brings back the mop:

Obama Speaks at MIT Oct. 23

Updated with video
Obama will speak on clean energy at 12:30 pm eastern and then he's off to the races. At 2:45 pm eastern, he'll speak on behalf of Deval Patrick and at 6:45 pm he'll speak at a fundraising dinner for Chris Dodd. I'll post video when it's up. The events should be live streamed at cnn.com and whitehouse.gov. Also, you may want to check out whitehouse.gov at 12 pm eastern, when Michelle Obama speaks on breast cancer awareness.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

President Barack Obama is doing more than promoting clean energy with a tour of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He's pumping some energy of his own into the campaigns of New England allies facing tough re-election bids.

The president's politicking on Friday begins in Cambridge, Mass., with a quick "official" event at MIT to challenge the nation to lead the global economy in clean energy. That appearance significantly brings down the cost of flying the president to fundraisers designed to raise money for two politically anemic Democrats, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut.
Patrick, an Obama friend who faces re-election in 2010, has insisted for months he's not focused on re-election next year, but drops the pretense with two high-profile fundraisers. AP

Obama Rallies for Jon Corzine in New Jersey Video

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Obama's Speech to Wall Street at DNC Fundraiser Video

Obama asks Wall Streeters at the DNC fundraiser in NYC to go against their greedy nature. He asks them join in on regulatory reform instead of fighting it.

But we all know greed is a powerful thing and as long as Americans view material goodies, bigger houses and high salaries as success, it will always be the heart of our economy.
The financial industry is still rewarding itself with large bonuses, despite the fact that many can't retire because they lost everything. I'm sure social responsibility on Wall Street is a laughable, quaint notion.
On NPR's Fresh Air yesterday, New York Times writer Andrew Ross Sorkin details the greed. He has a new book called Too Big to Fail. Sorkin talks about what went on behind the scenes of the financial meltdown. He says history will say that our financial system was rescued from the brink.

Obama Speaks at DNC Fundraisers in New York City

Update Oct. 21: See the speech to Organizing for America in NYC here and Obama's speech to Wall Streeters here.

Update: Obama to tell the moneymakers attending the fundraisers: Don't fight regulations.
Update: See Obama's speech to Joint Terrorism Task Force agents here.
Obama will speak at two DNC fundraisers in NYC, one at 7:10 pm and the other at 8:20 pm. Democrats need as many democrats to win so that they can keep bickering with each other.

While in New York City, Obama will visit FBI headquarters to thank agents for the arrest of the Denver terrorist suspect, Najibullah Zazi.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

At separate events in New York City, the president will raise money both for Bill Owens, a Democrat trying to win a special election in an upstate New York congressional district, and for the Democratic National Committee. The national party fundraising event alone is expected to generate between $2 million to $3 million. MSNBC

Obama's got more fundraising planned:

By week's end, Obama will also go to a New Jersey rally for Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, who is trying to fend off a tight Republican challenge; visit Boston to raise money for Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who is up for election in 2010; and travel to a Connecticut fundraiser for Sen. Chris Dodd, who is seeking another term next year. And in one week, Obama will campaign for Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, who is trailing in the race for Virginia governor.

Several factors beyond Obama's control will shape next month's races, but he puts his political standing on the line by investing his own time, and the White House is carefully calculating when he can afford to spare it.

Obama plans a final burst on behalf of candidates right before the Nov. 3 election. AP

Obama Speaks at DNC Fundraiser in San Francisco Oct. 15

Obama will be swooping in to help the DNC raise some money tonight. He'll speak at the private fundraiser at the St. Francis Hotel at 7:20. Lefty O'Doul's, across the street from the hotel, is welcoming Obama, and so are protesters. Not rightwing protesters but protesters on the left, advocating a single payer healthcare system.

Obama is scheduled to parachute into Liberalville on Thursday afternoon and pick up a cool $2 million for the Democratic Party at a fundraiser at the St. Francis Hotel - then spend the night, before checking out early the next morning and heading to Houston for a community service forum hosted by former President George H.W. Bush. SF Chronicle

Tomorrow, Obama heads to Texas to commemorate George H.W. Bush's Points of Light service program.
Here's a clip:

Obama says stop criticizing and grab a mop:

Obama Town hall in New Orleans Oct. 15

Obama and Sasha at Jefferson Memorial

UPDATE Oct. 15: SEE VIDEO OF THE TOWN HALL HERE.

Note the time is Louisiana time (it's at 2:15 eastern). There will be live audio here.

Update: The president will arrive at Louis Armstrong International Airport at about 11:30 a.m. and likely travel by Interstate 10 to New Orleans, where he will stop about noon at Martin Luther King Charter School in the Lower 9th Ward. He will proceed to the University of New Orleans for a town hall meeting at 1:15 p.m. Shortly after 2 p.m., the president's entourage will return to the airport. NOLA

The town hall should be live streamed at cnn.com, msnbc.com or whitehouse.gov/live. I'll post details on time and place when they're up. In New Orleans...

With the president will be Secretaries Napolitano, Donovan, and Duncan, who "will each participate in events throughout the community to review recovery progress."

From New Orleans, POTUS heads to San Francisco for a DNC fundraiser that evening, and then Friday he flies to College Station, Texas, for a Presidential Forum on community service hosted by former President George H.W. Bush and the Points of Light Institute at the George Bush Presidential Library Center on the campus of Texas A&M University. Politico

Bobby Jindal will be on hand:

"The president's administration has achieved some truly great things in the short time since taking office," Landrieu said Thursday evening. "If this visit is too brief, it will not afford the president the opportunity to see first-hand the impact that an effective and committed administration can have on rebuilding neighborhoods and communities."
Earlier in the day, Vitter sent a letter to Obama, cautioning, "If the town hall is the only major event of the visit, I truly think it will be deeply disappointing to most citizens."

The White House Thursday evening indicated that plans for the president's trip are still being finalized, and would not confirm that a town hall was on the agenda, leaving open the possibility that a different and perhaps more extensive itinerary was in the works.

Regardless of the president's precise plans for his trip, Gov. Bobby Jindal's office said Thursday that he would be in New Orleans for the president's visit. So too will Reps. Anh "Joseph" Cao, R-New Orleans, and Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson.
But Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, the only Democrat in the Louisiana House delegation, will not be in New Orleans with Obama.NOLA

Obama's DNC Fundraiser in Los Angeles

Update 5-28: See the video here.
Following last night's fundraiser in Las Vegas and today's trip to Nellis Air Force Base, Obama is attending a fundraiser for the democratic party in Beverly Hills tonight and then he'll return to Washington. Next week Obama will be traveling to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and elsewhere.
Jennifer Hudson is supposed to perform tonight.

The president will appear with some well-known celebrity hosts tonight at a Beverly Hills fundraiser for the Democratic Party expected to raise about $3 million.

"Obama promised to bring people together,'' the L.A. Times' Tina Daunt notes, "and he'll certainly be doing that tonight, when former DreamWorks partners Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen reunite to co-host dinner with President Barack Obama. Swamp

Gay marriage advocates are picketing in LA.