Congressman Frank Pallone Statement on President Barack Obama’s 2nd Inauguration

WASHINGTON D.C.—Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) released the following statement today after President Barack Obama’s 2nd inaugural address:

“I was honored today to bear witness to President Obama’s 2nd inaugural address and moved by both his words and the weight of this historic event. The peaceful transition of power between administrations is one of the greatest achievements of our republic and the president’s inauguration is a proud moment for all Americans.

“The president’s message of optimism was an inspiring example of what is right with our country. As the president mentioned, all generations of Americans have been tested by great moments of crisis of varying degrees, but it is America’s ability to reinvent itself that is the cornerstone of our democracy.

“I was impressed that the president outlined several issues of importance to him personally and to the nation as a whole. Specifically, I was heartened that President Obama mentioned the need for an improved focus on equal rights, dignity and opportunity for all Americans regardless of sexual orientation. It was also uplifting to hear an American president stand before the United States Capitol Building and proclaim his commitment to addressing issues like climate change, immigration reform, improving our economy, and protecting Medicare and Social Security.

“President Obama’s inaugural address reflected the hopes and dreams of millions of Americans for stronger and more prosperous nation and I look forward to working with him for the next for years to achieve the goals he set our today.”

President Obama Pledges a Remade America

"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history.”

- Barack Obama Inaugural Address January 20,2009, NY Times

  

President Barack Obama 2009 Inauguration and Address

If you missed it earlier today, President Barack Obama took the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States and delivered an inaugural address focusing on the themes of sacrifice and renewal on January 20, 2009.

Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov

The change was swift, at exactly 12:00pm est. the official website of the White House and the Presidency of the United States dropped all references to the Bush administration and ushered in all things Obama.

Here is the first post from the White House blog:

 

Welcome to the new WhiteHouse.gov. I'm Macon Phillips, the Director of New Media for the White House and one of the people who will be contributing to the blog.

A short time ago, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and his new administration officially came to life. One of the first changes is the White House's new website, which will serve as a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world.

Millions of Americans have powered President Obama's journey to the White House, many taking advantage of the internet to play a role in shaping our country's future. WhiteHouse.gov is just the beginning of the new administration's efforts to expand and deepen this online engagement.

Just like your new government, WhiteHouse.gov and the rest of the Administration's online programs will put citizens first. Our initial new media efforts will center around three priorities:

Communication -- Americans are eager for information about the state of the economy, national security and a host of other issues. This site will feature timely and in-depth content meant to keep everyone up-to-date and educated. Check out the briefing room, keep tabs on the blog (RSS feed) and take a moment to sign up for e-mail updates from the President and his administration so you can be sure to know about major announcements and decisions.

Transparency -- President Obama has committed to making his administration the most open and transparent in history, and WhiteHouse.gov will play a major role in delivering on that promise. The President's executive orders and proclamations will be published for everyone to review, and that’s just the beginning of our efforts to provide a window for all Americans into the business of the government. You can also learn about some of the senior leadership in the new administration and about the President’s policy priorities.

Participation -- President Obama started his career as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, where he saw firsthand what people can do when they come together for a common cause. Citizen participation will be a priority for the Administration, and the internet will play an important role in that. One significant addition to WhiteHouse.gov reflects a campaign promise from the President: we will publish all non-emergency legislation to the website for five days, and allow the public to review and comment before the President signs it.

We'd also like to hear from you -- what sort of things would you find valuable from WhiteHouse.gov? If you have an idea, use this form to let us know. Like the transition website and the campaign's before that, this online community will continue to be a work in progress as we develop new features and content for you. So thanks in advance for your patience and for your feedback.

Later today, we’ll put up the video and the full text of President Obama’s Inaugural Address. There will also be slideshows of the Inaugural events, the Obamas’ move into the White House, and President Obama’s first days in office.

Inauguration Day

Here's the official schedule of events:

President-elect Barack Obama, Mrs. Obama, Vice President-elect Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden for church services tomorrow morning at St. John's Episcopal Church. The President-elect will not speak during the services.

Following the services, President-elect Obama, Mrs. Obama, Vice President-elect Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will have coffee with President Bush, Mrs. Bush, Vice President Cheney, Mrs. Cheney and members of the House and Senate leadership at the White House. The coffee is closed to the press.

President-elect Obama, Mrs. Obama, Vice President-elect Biden and Mrs. Biden will travel with President Bush and Mrs. Bush, Vice-President Cheney and Mrs. Cheney to the Capitol. Vice President-elect Biden will be sworn in by Associate Justice John Paul Stevens. President-elect Obama will be sworn in by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. at 11:30 AM ET. Mrs. Obama will carry the Lincoln Bible to the platform and hold it while the oath of office is administered. President Obama will deliver his Inaugural Address at approximately 12 PM ET.

The new President will then proceed to the Capitol where he will sign cabinet secretary nomination certificates. A pool from the Joint Committee on Congressional Ceremonies will be present for the signing ceremony and for the remarks at the Inaugural Lunch that will follow. The Senate Press Gallery is determining the pool. The President and First Lady, Vice President and Second Lady will then proceed to the East Front of the Capitol for the Review of the Troops, before the beginning of the Inaugural Parade.

The President and First Lady will travel with the Presidential Escort to the Presidential Reviewing Stand where they will meet up with their daughters and the Biden family to watch the rest of the parade.

The President and First Lady will attend all ten official Inaugural balls. The President will speak briefly at all ten balls.

- Political Wire