Yesterday President Obama and Defense Secretary Panetta made history when they announced that at long last, more military positions, including ground combat units, will be opened to women. This is a major recognition, not only of all the women who are currently serving overseas, but of all the women who have ever worn our country's uniform. For me, that's personal.
Read MoreToday, every American can be proud that our military will grow even stronger with our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters playing a greater role in protecting this country we love.– President Barack Obama
Watch the full inaugural address here.
Today, President Obama and Vice President Biden announced their plan to reduce gun violence in America and keep our kids and communities safe. After senseless mass shootings in Connecticut and Colorado, we can't wait to act.
That's why the President's plan includes 23 executive actions that the administration will take immediately—actions such as strengthening the background check system and supporting mental health professionals. President Obama also called on Congress to pass specific, common-sense proposals right away. Taken together, this plan would close background-check loopholes that keep guns out of dangerous hands, ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, make schools safer, and increase access to mental health services.
"While there is no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence completely, no piece of legislation that will prevent every tragedy, every act of evil," President Obama said in his remarks, "if there is even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there is even one life that can be saved, then we've got an obligation to try."
Find out more about the President's plan at whitehouse.gov.
"Republicans in Congress have two choices here: They can act responsibly and pay America's bills, or they can act irresponsibly and put America through another economic crisis. But they will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the American economy. The financial well-being of the American people is not leverage to be used. The full faith and credit of the United States of America is not a bargaining chip."
–President Obama on raising the debt ceiling
Watch Barack Obama explain what the fiscal cliff agreement means for you and your family—then share this video with your friends.
10. Karl Rove's, the Koch brothers', and other conservative groups’ $1 billion in outside money was no match for your grassroots organizing.
9. Everyday citizens stood up to Republican attempts to suppress the vote—and our nation's courts struck down some of the GOP's most blatant efforts in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio.
8. The Supreme Court affirmed what we've known all along: Obamacare is constitutional.
7. Four states made history by supporting marriage equality at the ballot box.
6. Back from the brink of collapse, General Motors is posting record profits and investing billions in the U.S., thanks to a President who wouldn’t let Detroit go bankrupt.
5. President Obama and congressional Democrats prevented 7.4 million college students' loan interest rates from doubling.
4. With the DREAM Act stalled in Congress, President Obama signed an executive order helping undocumented young people in college or the military.
3. As of this year, 3.1 million young people now have health insurance and birth control is co-pay free—all thanks to Obamacare.
2. We've added 5.6 million jobs over 33 straight months of private-sector job growth. That's progress.
1. With 332 electoral votes, President Obama won re-election—decisively.
