Obama Watch: Week of September 20

The Obamas attend Black Caucus dinner; get Obama news here!

Saturday B-Ball - The president holds his BlackBerry as he walks with aide Reggie Love upon their arrival at Fort McNair in D.C. for a private game of basketball Saturday.

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Saturday B-Ball - The president holds his BlackBerry as he walks with aide Reggie Love upon their arrival at Fort McNair in D.C. for a private game of basketball Saturday.

Black Caucus Dinner - On Saturday, the president and the first lady attended Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc.’s Annual Legislative Conference Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.

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Black Caucus Dinner - On Saturday, the president and the first lady attended Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc.’s Annual Legislative Conference Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.

Obama’s Speech - "I need everybody here to go back to your neighborhoods, and your workplaces, to your churches, and barbershops, and beauty shops," President Obama told the audience of about 4,000. "Tell them we have more work to do.”

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Obama’s Speech - "I need everybody here to go back to your neighborhoods, and your workplaces, to your churches, and barbershops, and beauty shops," President Obama told the audience of about 4,000. "Tell them we have more work to do.”

Standing O - One audience member gives the president a standing ovation during his speech.

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Standing O - One audience member gives the president a standing ovation during his speech.

Obamas Go to Church - On Sunday, the first family attended service at St. John’s Church Lafayette Square. Obama, who says he has not chosen a church home due to the possible disruption his presence would cause a congregation, still does use his Christian faith while performing his duties. Afterward, he played golf at Andrews Air Force Base.

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Obamas Go to Church - On Sunday, the first family attended service at St. John’s Church Lafayette Square. Obama, who says he has not chosen a church home due to the possible disruption his presence would cause a congregation, still does use his Christian faith while performing his duties. Afterward, he played golf at Andrews Air Force Base.

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Defending Obama - Former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell defended the president against the attacks from “fringe” elements of the Republican Party. “I think we have to be careful when we take things like Dinesh D’Souza’s book, which is the source of all of this, and suggest that somehow the President of the United States is channeling his dead father through some Kenyan spirits. This doesn’t make any sense,” he said.

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Defending Obama - Former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell defended the president against the attacks from “fringe” elements of the Republican Party. “I think we have to be careful when we take things like Dinesh D’Souza’s book, which is the source of all of this, and suggest that somehow the President of the United States is channeling his dead father through some Kenyan spirits. This doesn’t make any sense,” he said.

Main Street Tour - President Obama will resume his White House to Main Street tour on Tuesday with a visit to Iowa. While in the state, he’ll tour Siemens Energy Inc Facility in Fort Madison and will make another stop in Mt. Pleasant. The president will hold a town hall meeting later in the afternoon at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa.

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Live Town Hall - On Monday afternoon, the president took part in a live CNBC town hall discussion about jobs and the economy.

Dinner Reception - Following the town hall, Obama will head to Philadelphia and deliver remarks at a finance and dinner reception for Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.). He will deliver remarks at a Democratic National Committee reception as well.

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Dinner Reception - Following the town hall, Obama will head to Philadelphia and deliver remarks at a finance and dinner reception for Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.). He will deliver remarks at a Democratic National Committee reception as well.

Stopping for Cheesesteak - While in Philly, the president stopped at a local shop to get a cheesesteak. Here he shakes hands with customers after ordering.

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Stopping for Cheesesteak - While in Philly, the president stopped at a local shop to get a cheesesteak. Here he shakes hands with customers after ordering.

Produce Shopping - President Obama also took some time to go shopping for local produce during his visit to the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia.

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Produce Shopping - President Obama also took some time to go shopping for local produce during his visit to the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia.

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Awarding Medals - On Tuesday, President Obama will award a posthumous Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry to Chief Master Sergeant Richard L. Etchberger, of the U.S. Air Force. Chief Etchberger displayed heroic actions during combat in 1968 in Laos. His sons, Richard Etchberger, Cory Etchberger and Steve Wilson will honor their father along with the president at the White House ceremony.

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Awarding Medals - On Tuesday, President Obama will award a posthumous Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry to Chief Master Sergeant Richard L. Etchberger, of the U.S. Air Force. Chief Etchberger displayed heroic actions during combat in 1968 in Laos. His sons, Richard Etchberger, Cory Etchberger and Steve Wilson will honor their father along with the president at the White House ceremony.

You Could Easily Be a Victim - Even if you’re covered by your employer, your insurance might not cover certain illnesses or you might still have to dig into your pockets to pay a high bill if your plan has a deductible on certain kinds of treatments. According to the New York Times, three-fourths of Americans who go bankrupt because of high medical bills, had health insurance plans.

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Patient’s Bill of Rights - President Obama will hold an event on the Patient’s Bill of Rights on Wednesday. Six months ago this week, he signed his landmark healthcare legislation, the effects of which will also debut this week. In the evening, he’ll travel to New York City for the United Nation’s General Assembly. While in the city, he’ll also attend a Democratic Party event.

"60 Minutes" - Could cable news cycles be to blame for the angry outbursts at last month’s town hall meetings? In a “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday, the president said, “The truth of the matter is that there has been, I think, a coarsening of our political dialogue … I will also say that in the era of 24-hour cable news cycles, that the loudest, shrillest voices get the most attention. And so one of the things that I’m trying to figure out is: How can we make sure that civility is interesting?”

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United Nations Address - President Obama will address the United Nations in New York City on Thursday. Afterwards, both he and First Lady Michelle Obama will join former President Bill Clinton to address the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative. Then the president will hold meetings with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

Bi-partisan Meeting - The president will meet with a group of Republican and Democratic senators to discuss energy and climate legislation on Tuesday.

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More U.N. Meetings - On Friday, President Obama will continue his meetings during the U.N. General Assembly. He’s set to host a meeting with leaders from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and he will attend a meeting hosted by the U.N., on Sudan. Obama will return to D.C. in the evening.

Michelle Obama: Comic Book Hero? - Last year, when Bluewater Productions launched its first Michelle Obama comic book as part of its Female Force line, they sold out of copies before it even hit stores, they say. Now, the group is coming out with a sequel entitled, “Female Force: Michelle Obama: YEAR ONE,” which will be about Mrs. Obama’s travels and accomplishments as First Lady during her first year in the White House, reports CNBC. The “Female Force” line also has comics dedicated to Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice.

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Mrs. Obama to Host Event in NY - While the president is in U.N. meetings, first lady Michelle Obama will host a special event for the spouses of worldwide leaders who are also taking part in General Assembly meetings. The event will take place at Stone Barns Center (a non-profit farm) and participants will tour the farm, seeing different herbs and ingredients that they will eat later at a luncheon.