First it was Michelle Obama who was getting all the attention for her wardrobe choices.  Now it’s the president himself.  While some people thought his pitch at last week’s All-Star baseball game fell a little short, others have criticized his blue jeans and sports team jacket ensemble. 

Asked about what he wore to the mound on this morning’s edition of the “Today” show, a popular U.S. morning television program, Obama made no apologies for his style.  “I’m a little frumpy,” he said.  He added, “I hate to shop,” and “those jeans are comfortable.”  He also referenced his wife, saying, “Here’s my attitude: Michelle, she looks fabulous. … For people who want a president to look great in tight jeans, I’m sorry.”

Should we care what the president or first lady chooses to wear?  Clothing critiques of world leaders: harmless fun, or waste of time?

To mark the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, President Obama met with three astronauts who made history on July 20, 1969. 

Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins were all invited to meet with the president this afternoon in the Oval Office.  The three men were the only crew members of Apollo 11 when it became the first manned mission to land on the moon.  It is believed they planned to use their face-to-face with President Obama to push for a space program that would put a human on Mars. 

Speaking about his meeting with Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins, as well as today’s historic milestone, president Obama said,

“…I think that all of us recall the moment in which mankind finally was untethered from this planet and was able to explore the stars; the moment in which we had one of our own step on the moon and leave that imprint that is there to this day. And it’s because of the heroism, the calm under pressure, the grace with which these three gentlemen operated, but also the entire NASA family that was able to, at great risk oftentimes, and with great danger, was somehow able to lift our sights, not just here in the United States but around the world.”

It is estimated that 500 million people crowded around televisions and radios to watch or listen to the first moon walk.  Were you one of those people?  What do you think the future of space exploration should be? Here are some ideas about what might be next: http://www.america.gov/space.html

You can read President Obama’s full remarks after meeting with the Apollo 11 crew on NASA’s website.

For the first time since his election, President Obama has addressed a predominately African-American audience.  He spoke last night in New York City at the 100th convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which is a powerful civil rights organization in the United States.

Obama acknowledged that he himself has benefited from the work of the NAACP, but admitted that there are still obstacles for the African-American community to overcome. 

He had a specific message for the parents in the audience, urging them to take a more active role in the lives of their children.  Conversely, he asked young people to aspire to goals other than becoming basketball stars and rappers.   Speaking about young African-Americans he said,

“I want them aspiring to be scientists and engineers, doctors and teachers, not just ballers and rappers,” Obama said. “I want them aspiring to be a Supreme Court justice. I want them aspiring to be president of the United States.”

That statement earned Obama a standing ovation from the NAACP crowd.
  
What do you think of his message to parents and students?