http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/jw-releases-confidential-usda-videos-revealing-cultural-sensitivity-training-program/
(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch today released previously unseen USDA videos revealing a compulsory “Cultural Sensitivity Training” program. A whistleblower reported to Judicial Watch that employees were required to bang on tables, chanting in unison “The pilgrims were illegal aliens” while being instructed to no longer use the word “minorities,” but to replace it with “emerging majorities.” Judicial Watch received the videos pursuant to a May 18, 2012, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
The sensitivity training sessions, described as “a huge expense” by diversity awareness trainer and self-described “citizen of the world” Samuel Betances, were held on USDA premises. The diversity event is apparently part of what USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack described in a memo sent to all agency employees as a “new era of Civil Rights” and “a broader effort towards cultural transformation at USDA.” In 2011 and 2012, the USDA paid Betances and his firm nearly $200,000 for their part in the “cultural transformation” program.
USDA Training Administrator, Vincent Loran, in an October 10, 2011, email previously revealed by Judicial Watch, asked Betances for a copy of a training video vowing to keep it secret. “It will not be used for or show [sic] in any way shape or form,” Loran promised. Nevertheless, Judicial Watch was able to obtain the video. Highlights from the video of the taxpayer-financed diversity training include:
- USDA Sensitivity Training Video Excerpt 1 – “If you take a look at all of you here and you think about your salaries and your benefits and what you have left undone – plus my fee – plus the expense of the team that putting the video together, this is a huge expense.”
- USDA Sensitivity Training Video Excerpt 2 – “I want you to say that American was founded by outsiders – say that – who are today’s insiders, who are very nervous about today’s outsiders. I want you to say, ‘The pilgrims were illegal aliens.’ Say, ‘The pilgrims never gave their passports to the Indians.’” Betances also asked the audience, “Give me a bam,” after these statements, to which the audience replied in unison.
- USDA Sensitivity Training Video Excerpt 3 – “By the way, I don’t like the word ‘minorities.’ How about ‘emerging majorities?’”
“This USDA diversity training video depicts out-of-control political correctness,” said Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch. “Can someone please explain how any of this helps USDA employees to better serve the American taxpayer? This video further confirms that politically-correct diversity training programs are both offensive and a waste of taxpayer money. No wonder it took over half a year to obtain this video from the Obama administration.”As reported by Fox News in October, 2012, Judicial Watch first broke the news of the USDA compulsory sensitivity training program based upon information it obtained in response to a FOIA request. That request was prompted by a tip provided to the organization by a USDA whistleblower.Judicial Watch also previously uncovered information revealing that in April 2011, the USDA had treated 300 of its employees to a taxpayer-funded ‘tasty celebration’ of dishes from around the world, salsa dancing lessons from Vincent Loran, and a rap performance by a USDA employee who shared his feelings on human differences.and demonstrating why there is really little sympathy for the Postal Service's plight .......http://dailycaller.com/2013/02/19/report-struggling-postal-service-to-spend-2-2-million-on-san-francisco-conference/Report: Struggling Postal Service to spend $2.2 million on San Francisco conference
12:01 PM 02/19/2013
The struggling United States Postal Service, which has been pushing to end Saturday deliveries as a last-ditch way to save money, is spending over $2 million to send 400 employees to a San Francisco conference next month.Documents obtained by local California TV station KTVU reveal
that Postal Service will end up spending $2.2 million on the four-day National Postal Forum conference at the Moscone Center in March.KTVU reports that between travel, exhibit space and other aspects of the trip will cost the postal service $2.2 million. There will also be workshops, golf, a dance party, music entertainment, and a taste of San Francisco banquet, according to the report.USPS explained to KTVU that the Forum will help to make money by creating future business, claiming that last year the Forum conference in Orlando generated $73,000 for each dollar they spent.“The Forum is the mailing industry’s premier educational venue, trade show and networking event for industry professionals,” The National Postal Service Forum’s website explains. “It provides business mailers with ongoing training and education, and helps them keep pace with the mailing industry’s rapid progress.”USPS added that this year they as sending 160 fewer staffers than they did last year.The Forum is held annually each spring.UPDATE: Tuesday, Georgia Republican Rep. Tom Graves sent a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe requesting a “detailed justification for the USPS’s costly participation in the National Postal Forum conference.”
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/02/19/obama-we-must-avoid-these-dangerous-spending-cuts-that-i-signed-into-law/
Obama: We must avoid these dangerous spending cuts that I signed into law
POSTED AT 2:41 PM ON FEBRUARY 19, 2013 BY ALLAHPUNDIT
Via Charlie Spiering and Guy Benson, whose headline is better than mine. WaPo’s right that this is all about preparing the ground spin-wise for the coming budget standoff with the GOP. The more alarmist O is now, the more pressure in theory there’ll be on Republicans to agree to anything — like new tax revenues — to avert the sequester, which, as you’re hopefully by now aware, was actually the White House’s idea initially and which O himself stood by as recently as late last year. In a more honest world, he would have used the troops and defense contractors as his backdrop here. But he doesn’t want to make defense his anti-cuts showpiece. His base loves the idea of shrinking the Pentagon’s budget; O himself likes it enough to have nominated Chuck Hagel to serve as his Republican rubber-stamp for the practice. So the “potted plants” du jour are first responders, whose budgets will supposedly end up being slashed to put a small dent in annual deficits because Democrats still aren’t ready to address the real driver of unsustainability, mandatory spending. To get a better sense of what that means big-picture, follow the link to Benson’s post and note the graph at the bottom. John Sexton remembers that the whole point of the sequester when it passed was to impose cuts so unpalatable to both sides that they’d surely agree to a grand bargain to avert them before those cuts took effect. The GOP agreed to tax hikes at New Year’s as part of the revenue side of that bargain. Where’s the Dems’ agreement on the (mandatory) spending side?Exit question via about a dozen different people on Twitter: If criminals are about to go free, second look at gun rights?
Well , Obama and Michelle have no plans to stop spending taxpayer monies.....http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2280855/Obama-pictured-leaving-1m-golfing-weekend-Tiger-Woods-imposed-controversial-photo-black-out.htmlPresident finally shows his face after $1m golfing weekend with Tiger Woods that White House didn't want world to see
- Obama played at exclusive Florida course on Sunday with Tiger Woods
- President refused to say if he had been beaten by the champion golfer
- Cost of Air Force One trips to and from Florida, along with hotel rooms, greens fees and exclusive golf lessons comes to $989,207
- Tried to mend fraught relationship with traveling press corps by 'hanging out' with them for 10 minutes on the flight back
By MEGHAN KENEALLY and LOUISE BOYLE|Pictures finally appeared of President Obama on Monday evening as he headed home to Washington after a relaxing golf weekend which was kept heavily under wraps.The President was on the course on Monday for the third and final day of a Florida vacation with departing US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, the president's Chicago pal Eric Whitaker and White House aide Marvin Nicholson.The President had enjoyed a round of golf with Tiger Woods on Sunday - a fact that only emerged by chance after media were banned from attending the event. The traveling pool of journalists who follow the President's every move were reportedly furious after being shut out of his round of golf and not being allowed on to the club grounds.
Back in the swing of things: President Obama waves in the doorway of Air Force One as he departs from Palm Beach International Airport on Monday
Back to business: Obama jogs up the stairs of Air Force One upon his departure from Florida heading for D.C. (left) as an aide carries on the golf back of Obama's friend Eric Whitaker
Bags of fun: An aide heaves several golf bags up the stairs of Air Force One after weekend on the course with friendsIt has long been a White House tradition that pool reporters cover the President's rounds of golf and even have the opportunity for a few questions on the course.The President waved as he jogged up the steps of Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport on Monday evening while a White House aide heaved golf clubs and large bags on board.When he landed back in Washington and walked across the White House lawn, several frustrated reporters collectively shouted to the President to ask if he had beaten Tiger Woods.Despite appearing to have heard the question, the Daily Caller reported, Obama did not answer and just smiled.
Home again: President Barack Obama waves to members of the media as walks across the South Lawn of the White House following his arrival on Marine One helicopter on Monday nightThe President was relaxing on a trip to the Floridian, an exclusive club along Florida's Treasure Coast. Obama arrived in Florida late on Friday and returned to Washington on Monday nightThe club's owner is Jim Crane, a Houston businessman who also owns baseball's Houston Astros. Crane also has given money to Obama's political campaigns.The White House had barred media coverage of the president's golf holiday but released the names of his partners.The Huffington Post reports that the President tried to make amends with the traveling press by spending a quick 10 to 15 minutes with them in the back of Air Force One as they headed back to D.C.Proving that he was not dropping the secrecy act anytime soon, all of the reporters involved had to agree that the conversation was off the record, meaning that they could not officially report anything that he said and had to keep their reflections of the conversation in extremely vague terms.'He didn't come back because he had to tell us something. He came back to hang out,' reporter Scott Wilson from The Washington Post, who was serving as the pool reporter on Monday.The weekend is the latest in a string of incidents that have prompted press backlash against the self-titled 'transparent' President, with Politico reporting today that withholding access is just one of the ways in which his administration works to avoid the tough questions and promote their brand.The outrage over the lack of transparency comes as much of the bill for the pricey trip will be paid for by tax payers, yet President Obama did not feel it appropriate to even release one photo of his time out on the course.The President played with the notorious philanderer on Sunday after getting a private lesson from Woods' former coach the day before.
On the course: CNN was the only network to air footage of President Obama during one of his golf outings, but it does not appear to be the time that he played with Tiger Woods
Using his lessons: President Obama spent three days in Florida over the long weekend and was only seen on Monday
One last round: President Obama (seen in the white cap) played an estimated five or six rounds in three daysHowever the only inside reports about the rounds came from a golf journalist who happened to be in the clubhouse at the time.'Speaking on behalf of the White House Correspondents Association, I can say a broad cross section of our members from print, radio, online and TV have today expressed extreme frustration to me about having absolutely no access to the President of the United States this entire weekend,' Fox News reporter Ed Henry said.'There is a very simple but important principle we will continue to fight for today and in the days ahead: transparency.'The President's deputy press secretary Josh Earnest responded to the pool's concerns by simply saying that they were previously told about the level of access- or lack thereof- that they should expect from the weekend.
No photos: Though he has been pictured on other trips- like this one in Hawaii in 2009- the President denied any press access during his round of golf with Tiger Woods over the weekend
Meeting again: President Obama invited Tiger Woods to the White House in 2009 (pictured) and now the President is traveling to Woods' neighborhood by going to Florida for the weekend'The press access granted by the White House today is entirely consistent with the press access offered for previous presidential golf outings,' Mr Earnest said to Politico.In spite of his claims, the President has been pictured during a number of his other rounds of golf, including during his trips to Hawaii over Christmas and Martha's Vineyard in previous summers.The trip was far from a little getaway, as he made his way to the golf course by way of Chicago on Friday and that is when the costs started piling up.ABC News reported that in 2012, it cost $179,750 per flight hour to run Air Force One.Going off that rate- even though it is likely higher now since gas prices have risen- the cost of the flights to Florida and back to Washington on Monday totaled $943,687.50.
Picturesque: President Obama never left the grounds of the Floridian golf course during his three-night stay
Luxurious: Obama's entourage rented out all three of the four-bedroom cottages on the grounds of the clubHOW MUCH IT COSTS FOR A PRESIDENTIAL BOYS WEEKEND
$943,687.50: estimated cost of a trip for Air Force One from Chicago to West Palm Beach and then back to Washington, D.C.$13,500: Cost to rent out three four-bedroom guest cottages at The Floridian for three nights$24,000: Cost of an eight-hour private golf lesson with famed instructor Butch Harmon$1,800: Greens fees for three guests for two rounds of golf$1,600: Cost of four caddies for two rounds of golf$4,620: Cost of 20 rooms at the Port St. Lucie Holiday Inn for traveling press and security detail based on the government per-diem rateTOTAL: $989,207He rented out all three of the four-bedroom guest cottages on the grounds of The Floridian for the whole of the long weekend, as well about 20 hotel rooms from the nearby Holiday Inn- which is about 20 minutes drive from the course- for his traveling entourage of press and security.Expectantly, their price differentials are significant, as one night in a guest cottage costs $1,500 while the Holiday Inn told MailOnline that they charged the government per-diem rate of $77 per room.On top of the logistical expenses, the whole point of the trip was to relax on the golf course, which involves a whole host of expenses in itself.Guest greens fees at The Floridian are $300 per person, and each player hires a caddy who costs $200 per round.For three guests to play two rounds of golf over the weekend, greens fees come to $1,800 and the caddies fees for the foursome total $1,600.
Relaxation: The President's press team said that they did not need to allow journalists on to the grounds because it was a personal vacation and that Mr Obama was not conducting any formal political events during the trip
Options: Since he did not leave the grounds, Mr Obama undoubtedly ate in the course's gourmet dining room
Expensive: All told, the trip is thought to have cost close to $1millionThe Floridian also features a gourmet dining room, full service spa and a marina with 68 boat slips so members can arrange to go on fishing outings during their stay. Because the press were banned from getting past the maintenance shed outside of the gates of the club, it is not known whether the President indulged in any of those amenities.The golf club's rules stipulate that all expenses incurred by guests are paid for by their member counter part. In this case, that means that the club's owner Jim Crane- who is also a Democratic donor- likely paid for all of the charges and is being reimbursed either in full or part.Another personal expense that Mr Obama racked up came from the eight hour one-on-one lesson with golf pro Mr Harmon. Since those lessons typically cost $3,000, that means that Mr Obama's bill came to a tidy $24,000 after his intensive session on Saturday.During his stay, the President never left the grounds of the golf club, meaning that his transportation and security costs were kept to a minimum. A spokesman for the nearby police department said that they had not been asked by the Secret Service to provide any additional security.
Spotted: Golf Digest reporter Tim Rosaforte reported that he saw President Obama close to 11am
Keeping score: Tiger Woods is rumored to be doing well during the early bouts of the roundWhile both the President and Woods remained mum about their round of golf, former coach Mark Harmon wasn't shy when it came to talking about their conversations.'Just to see the interaction between the two on the range was pretty neat. The President said to Tiger, "The last tournament you played was fun to watch. It's good to see you play well again." You could tell he meant it. It just wasn't a throw it out compliment,' he told Golf Digest.
Familiar face: The President played golf with his friend Eric Whitaker on Saturday, and he was seen playing with him back in 2009 during a trip to Martha's Vineyard (pictured) as wellPrior to Mr Obama's round with Tiger- where he was accompanied by his friend from Chicago Eric Whitaker, two Democratic donors, a U.S. trade representative and the club's owner Jim Crane- the President spent eight hours with Mr Harmon fine-tuning his game.He reportedly played 27 holes with Mr Harmon and had an instruction session in his golf studio.'I like the fact he loves golf,' Mr Harmon said.'Obviously he doesn't get to play very much. He said it was a real treat for him to come here with his best friends and have a chance to play.'But he counts every shot. He doesn't like gimmes. He putts everything out. He counts all his penalty shots. He thinks about all his shots before he hits them.'Some people might say to the President of the United States, "Oh, just move it." But that's not him. He loves the game and loves the game the way it's supposed to be played.'Golf Digest reporter Tim Rosaforte reported that the Commander-in-Chief reported to the club's driving range at around 11am as he warmed up for the 'historic' round with Woods and Crane.The President was supposed to play with Woods at Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound which is about a half hour away from The Floridian, but Mr Obama and his entourage opted to stay on the grounds of the golf club in Palm City.Since reporters were barred from accessing the golf crew, gossip was flying at the country club as members tried their best to get an insight into how the round was going.
Tranquil: The round is taking place at The Floridian Yacht and Golf Club owned by Jim Crane
Butch Harmon, pictured with Tiger Woods in 1999, will be working with the president this weekend on his golf swing'Not going to turn this into Tiger Tracker, but from pro shop at Floridian we received word TW holed out greenside bunker No. 1 for birdie,' Rosaforte tweeted.While this is the first time that the President has played golf with Woods- who has won the most titles in the storied sport- it is not the first time that they have met.
Upper echelon: Jim Crane, who owns the golf club and the Houston Astros, is a Democratic donor and has played golf with the President twice this weekendThe disgraced golfer did a reading at one of President Obama's inaugural festivities in 2009 and followed that up with a visit to the White House.That visit took place five months before his long list of affairs was exposed so it is unclear whether or not Woods and Mr Obama have spoken since. Their four hours on the course will leave them with plenty of time to talk, however.During his round on Saturday, the President played with Crane as well as U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. He also played at least one round with his close friend Eric Whitaker who he has known since he lived in Chicago.Both Carroll and Crane have donated to Democratic campaigns, and Chase hosted an Obama fundraiser during the presidential campaign last year.The Florida club is used to having some high-profile guests, as conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh talked about his times playing there during his show on Saturday.'I was a proud and honored member of the Floridian,' he said.'The president’s got himself a good, old-fashioned guys golf weekend.'The weekend wasn't all smooth sailing for the President's team, however, as three planes breached the no-fly zone that was imposed during Mr Obama's visit.The Federal Aviation Administration is now investigating the incidents which obviously caused concern about what may have happened if the security restrictions were broken on purpose.President Obama is enjoying a break from his family this weekend after flying to Florida for a golf getaway, while the First Lady and daughters Sasha and Malia will be skiing in Aspen, Colorado, the White House confirmed on Friday.
Daily Mail flubbered around - covering everything but the reason why the media got the buzz off treatment on this " private " taxpayer funded vacation....
http://sandrarose.com/2013/02/obama-vacationed-alone-with-reggie-love-bans-media-from-taking-pictures/#more-76403Obama Vacationed Alone With Reggie Love, Bans Media from Taking Pictures
The contents of this post may be upsetting to some of you unrepentant Obama apologists. You may want to sit this one out and wait for the next post which will be up shortly.
For years there have been rumors about President Barack Obama’s sexual preferences. To understand why I am entertaining the rumors today, I have to take you back to November 2011, when Obama’s “body man” Reggie Love resigned from his manufactured position as “deputy political director” to Mr. Obama.At the time, the WH press pool that follows Obama everywhere speculated quietly that the president and Mr. Love had broken up. The rumor mongers within the press pool speculated that Love was asked to resign — so close to the November elections — because “compromising” pictures from his college days had surfaced online — and the pics were zooming along the Internet highway at such a rapid pace that the White House could not contain them.According to this blog, the pictures purportedly showed a “heavily inebriated” Mr. Love performing a homosexual act on another male.It was important for Reggie Love to tender his resignation if Mr. Obama had any hopes of being reelected. So, exit Mr. Love stage left.Now, fast forward to this past week, when word leaked that the Obamas were taking separate vacations. As soon as the White House confirmed the reports, the devoted members of the Church of Obama dropped to their knees in fervent defense of their Savior.One reader quipped: “When your relationship is strong and secure, you can take a separate vacay over a long weekend.” (Yea, sure. As if the reader wouldn’t snap if her husband even hinted that he was taking a separate vacation away from her.)It’s important to note that the Obamas have taken separate vacations before. So why was it different this time? Well, this time Mr. Obama violated the rules by banning the White House press pool from laying eyes on him (or taking pictures) the entire weekend, which I’m sure is mandated in the Constitution somewhere.The WH press pool was said to be “furious” at the lack of access to the president this weekend (as if it was the first time that Obama has blocked them from recording his extracurricular activities for all future generations to see).The usually fawning media vented their frustrations in a most un-lapdog-like way.“The way the president’s availability to the press has shrunk in the last two years is a disgrace,” snapped ABC News White House reporter Ann Compton, who Politico.comnotes has covered presidents all the way back to Gerald Ford.Then on Monday came this blurb from a journalist returning to Washington on board Air Force 1 with the president:AF1 wheels down Andrews at 7:45pm. POTUS came back to have a 10-minute off the record talk with pool at the end of the flight.Reggie Love departed AF1 soon after POTUS, apparently a guest for the weekend.Marine One wheels up 7:55 pmNow we understand quite clearly why First Lady Michelle Obama’s body language reveals such quiet aggression whenever Obama touches her. It must be difficult being the first black president who is also gay. But somehow, Mr. Obama is making it work.From Hillbuzz.org:With no political career left to worry about, he can openly be himself. Draped in colorful muumuus, with a retinue of hunky shirtless Secret Service studs around him, Barack Obama will find himself in a new kind of paradise no doubt.
Go ahead and laugh at the idea now, if you want. I remember hearing how some women scoffed at the idea that Elton John was gay back in the day too. “But he’s married!”, “He has a wife!”, “I can’t believe he’s gay!”. Well, believe it, sisters.The current President of the United States is as gay, or even more gay, as Elton John. It might take ten years or so for him to finally come out and hold court on the circuit party scene, or this might be a case like with Rock Hudson and Liberace where the truth only comes out once Barack Obama has passed on far into the future…but there’s just no reason for guys like Kal Penn and Reggie Love to play the strange roles that they have played in Barack Obama’s life unless they were his boyfriends.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20130216/NEWS/130219894
( Another million dollar weekend - while Obama was off on his own million dollar weekend.... what aboutthat old saying of shared sacrifice ? )
First lady, Joe Biden in townASPEN — Michelle Obama and her daughters, Sasha and Malia, arrived Friday in Aspen to enjoy Presidents Day weekend.
Law-enforcement officials declined to discuss the first lady's plans for the short stay, but Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo said that his agency will be providing assistance to the Secret Service during the visit. DiSalvo said his understanding is that Obama will leave town by Sunday.
Vice President Joe Biden also is visiting the area this week, with a short ski trip planned in Snowmass Village, according to published reports. Sgt. Brian Olson, of the Snowmass Village Police Department, declined to discuss the second-in-command's stay.
“We don't have information we're providing one way or another,” he said.
DiSalvo said the Sheriff's Office will have seven to eight deputies helping the Secret Service during Obama's visit.
“As usual, we are there to support the Secret Service just like we support any other law enforcement in the state of Colorado,” he said. “They have no power of arrest, so if they do need the power of arrest, we are there. And it's important that they have our local knowledge.”
The Washington Post, in a report Friday, said “White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest confirmed Friday to reporters aboard Air Force One that the first lady and her daughters will be on a ‘ski trip out west with family and friends.'”
The first lady's most recent visit to Aspen came over Presidents Day weekend 2012. She also was here in July 2011, when she was here to raise campaign funds for President Obama's 2012 campaign. The fundraiser took place at the home of Jim and Paula Crown in the Maroon Creek Club near the Tiehack side of Buttermilk.
DiSalvo said the cost to county taxpayers to provide support for this weekend's visit, as well as the one in 2011, is worth it.
“I think that loaning our resources to the Secret Service is something I will continue to do,” he said. “It's a privilege to have dignitaries here, no matter what party they represent. It's an important part of the community.”
The sheriff said it is too early too tell how much his staff expenses will be in relation to Michelle Obama's stay.Biden and the first lady's visits are unrelated, and neither has a public appearance slated for the weekend. President Obama reportedly is vacationing in Florida this weekend.
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