President Obama asks to give commencement speech at NY women's college

[cal04]

Source: The Hill

President Obama will address the graduates of Barnard College at this year's commencement, The Hill has confirmed.

Obama will deliver the keynote address at the women's college in New York on May 14.

The White House called the college in recent days and offered up Obama as the commencement speaker and the college promptly accepted. Originally, New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson was set to address the graduates before the White House called the college.

(snip)
A White House official told The New York Times, which first reported the story Saturday, that "as the father of two daughters, President Obama wanted to speak to some of America's next generation of women leaders."

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/213955-obama-asks-to-give-commencement-address-at-ny-womens-college

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Obama Will Speak at Commencement at Barnard College
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/us/politics/obama-will-speak-at-barnard-graduation.html?_r=1

[BeyondGeography]

1. I guess Jill has another year to work on her speech

[2banon]

25. Good.. Jill Abramson is a horrible speaker!

Anyone ever hear her in interviews on NPR or other venue? Sheesh!

Of course I think it's excellent move on Obama's part, but Michelle maybe should be the one giving it.. I suppose since it is a campaign year...

But it pains me to even imagine Jill Abramson giving a speech in any group setting.. I pity those who ever have to suffer through her utterances of any length. She can't even describe the weather or time of day without making me want to turn the radio/tv off asap...

Don't mean to be mean spirited, but that woman has a severe vocal impediment that could be fixed with a speech/acting coach, I should think.

[dhill926]

2. good move.........n/t

[polichick]

4. Yep, very strategic.

[tridim]

5. He does everything right.

He is going to absolutely destroy Mittens.

[greiner3]

3. Ya think;

He'll bring up Rush and the future 'sluts' of America?

[movonne]

10. I'm pretty sure he will have the future sluts of america voting

in droves...

[sarcasmo]

12. +1

[JJW]

6. It cost $ 40K per yr to go to Barnard

I think it would be smart for a Presidential hopeful to give a commencement speech at a vocational, community, or state college, just for a change. But perhaps they look for wealthy parents to contribute to the campaign.

[NYC Liberal]

7. I don't know if he's given a commencement speech at one, but he does speak at community colleges

and technical colleges.

[CTyankee]

8. YES! Especially a vocational school where women are trained in non-traditional jobs!

Women in or planning to go in to those fields would receive a terrific boost from Obama having their back! It's nice that he's going to Barnard, but they're pretty much "set" in their life's trajectory. Women struggling in jobs where they are in the great minority need the help.

I say this as the mother of a daughter who went to a "Seven Sister" college (Mt. Holyoke).

[pnwmom]

24. No young college graduate these days is "set" in their life's trajectory.

Even students in engineering jobs have watched their opportunities disappear -- it took my engineer nephew a year to find a job.

And Columbia/Barnard graduates in the humanities will continue to face challenges for quite some time. Those degrees don't mean anyone is "set."

[CTyankee]

31. Well, my kids are out of college for awhile now, so I can't comment on today's graduates.

But they all did pretty well (my son is a Columbia grad, but he went on to Law School and is now a prosecutor in NYC). But I see what you are saying. There has been a shift in lots of things we used to take for granted back in the late 80s and early 90s. I tremble a bit at it all...

[pnwmom]

32. There has been a huge shift in the last few years.

In the year before my nephew graduated, the typical graduate with his mech e degree took a job paying 65K. He looked for a year (with a very good GPA and several internships on his resume) and finally found a position starting at a little over 40K. A friend of mine who had graduated from the same college took it upon himself to help my nephew by calling some of his business friends -- and was shocked to find out there was nothing available. He was a recruiter for the college and had no idea how bad things were getting.

[Surya Gayatri]

9. IMHO, he was most likely looking for a women's

school in order to contrast his commitment to women's issues with the GOP War on Women.

Many of the women at Barnard are there on full academic scholarships. They are some of the best and brightest.
SG

[nolabear]

13. Perhaps he will. But he's speaking to "the next women leaders"

and everyone can imagine their daughter as one of them. He's not only speaking to Barnard. He's speaking to young women and the parents who believe them to be excellent. It's a smart move, and a respectful one, and I am so down with that.

[Politicub]

20. +1

[abolugi]

14. "Presidental hopeful?!"

He's already President, silly

[Zgrrl]

17. As a Barnard alum, I'm very excited!

I am a Barnard alum and I received an email from the college's president with the great news. It indicates that there are likely other schools where the President will deliver a commencement address, and I'm sure there will be some diversity in the type of schools. Here is the text of the email:

Dear Barnard Alumnae,

I have exciting news to report. Each year, President Obama selects a small number of schools at which to deliver commencement addresses. This year, the President has chosen Barnard College and will address our senior class on May 14th. This is a great honor for the College and a testament to the collective achievement of all Barnard graduates, especially the Class of 2012.

Jill Abramson, executive editor of The New York Times, was previously announced as the keynote speaker and has noted that she is happy to speak at Barnard at a later date.

It will be a thrill for all of us to welcome President Obama and hear his words. We will be broadcasting the speech and the entire ceremony live, via webcast, on the College’s website.

As ever, we look forward to celebrating the spectacular achievements of the Class of 2012 on May 14th.

Debora Spar

*** edited for spelling error

[nolabear]

11. LOL!! That is one smart man.

Speak to the women. And their mothers and fathers. Honor them. Advise them. Treat them with respect. This woman is pleased.

[randome]

15. It's like he's daring the GOP...

...see how easy it is? Why don't you try it?

Knowing that if they do, they will come across even worse than they already seem. The Republicans are scared! It's a great time to be alive.

[FailureToCommunicate]

16. Commencement speaker at Barnard?? What a SNOB!

[hughee99]

18. A great rarity to have a male speaker at Barnard. n/t

[Politicub]

19. Awesome! Can't wait to hear the speech

[alp227]

21. i wonder where Romney, Santorum, and Paul will do commencements...

Romney: Brigham Young perhaps?
Santorum: one of those small evangelical Christian or Catholic colleges?
Paul: George Mason or Auburn (which are well known for libertarian-leaning economics departments)

[Wait Wut]

22. Ron Paul is giving a speech...

...at Area 51.

[The Traveler]

23. ROFL!

Good one! (And probably true.)

[Fearless]

26. But I thought he wanted to shrink gov't!?

Maybe he'll take a handful of dirt out with him.

[Wait Wut]

27. He does.

That's why he's giving a speech at Area 51. He wants to free "his people" and close it down.

[Fearless]

28. Ohh!

I never realized that the US Gov't had been sequestering leprechauns at Area 51! What a clever cover up!

[Wait Wut]

29. AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

OMG!!! Alien leprechauns are INVADING!!!

[stlsaxman]

38. DUzy!!!

[KamaAina]

36. Sick Rick: Ave Maria University

ultra-RW Catholic school founded by Domino's Pizza magnate Tom Monaghan, deep in the Florida swamplands.

[saras]

30. Yes, but will he top "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)"?

[ghjtydger]

33. Spam deleted by NRaleighLiberal (MIR Team)

[Beacool]

34. He's speaking at Barnard?

Oh yeah, it's an election year.

[snooper2]

35. How long are you going to hate on him for beating Hillary?

?

[Beacool]

37. Hmmm, let me think...........

Either January 2013 or January 2017, depends on whether he gets reelected. Out of sight, out of mind.