August 13, 2010 3:34 PM

How Many "Top Priority" Issues Does Obama Have?

By
Mark Knoller
Topics
White House

(Credit: AP)
After the Senate passed that $600 million Border Security Bill yesterday, President Obama issued a statement asserting that securing the southwest border has been "a top priority" since he took office.

But if you think Mr. Obama can have but a single "top priority," you'd be wrong. He's got a load of them.

In an Address to the Nation two months ago, Mr. Obama declared "our top priority is to recover and rebuild from a recession that has touched the lives of nearly every American."

More than any other issue, he has used the phrase "top priority" about digging the economy out of the recession and creating jobs. And on this issue, he drew a distinction between "a" top priority and "the" top priority.

"Creating jobs in the United States and ensuring a return to sustainable economic growth is the top priority for my Administration," he said in an Executive Order last March on his National Export Initiative.

Early in his administration, Mr. Obama also assigned the "top priority" label to his campaign promise to overhaul America's health care system. But a check of his speeches since taking office, reflect a bevy of other "top priorities:"

FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS: "...that's something that's going to be a top priority." (4/27/10)

ENERGY SECURITY: "And that's why my energy security plan has been one of the top priorities of my Administration since the day I took office." (4/28/10)

EDUCATION REFORM: "To train our workers for the jobs of tomorrow, we've made education reform a top priority in this Administration." (2/24/10)

STUDENT LOAN REFORM: "This is something that I've made a top priority." (2/1/10)

EXPORTS BY SMALL BUSINESSES: "This is going to be a top priority." (12/3/09)

HEALTH ASSISTANCE TO 9/11 FIRST RESPONDERS: "I'm not just talking the talk, we've been budgeting this as a top priority for this Administration." (2/3/10)

END HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS: "I've also directed (Veterans Affairs) Secretary Shinseki to focus on a top priority: reducing homeless among veterans." (8/17/09)

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS: "Our top priority is ensuring the public safety. That means appropriate sheltering in place or if necessary, getting as many people as possible out of harm's way prior to landfall." (5/29/09)

H1N1 FLU VACCINATIONS: "And throughout this process, my top priority has been the health and the safety of the American people." (5/1/09)

SUPPORT FOR MILITARY FAMILIES: "These military families are heroes too. And they are a top priority of Michelle and me. And they will always have our support." (5/30/09)

STRENTHENING TIES WITH CANADA AND MEXICO: "We're going to make this a top priority..." (10/16/09)

CONSUMER PROTECTION: "During these challenging times, the needs of American consumers are a top priority of my Administration." (2/11/09)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: "So this is going to be a top priority generally improving our environmental quality." (11/5/09)

The dictionary defines "top" as a singular entity: "the part of anything that is first or foremost."

By designating a multitude of "top priorities," Mr. Obama can be seen trying to score political points with the constituencies for all of these issues.

Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/markknoller.


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by hogorina April 26, 2011 10:46 PM EDT
COCKROACHERS ROAD TO SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

THE FOLLY OF A TWO PARTY POLITICAL SYPHILIS AND BACTERIAl IMPLOSION
FOSSILIZED BLOCK HEADS
The study of mother nature respectively as to unpolluted water and its vital necessity in protecting the lower animal world against man's various activities ---- lead to passing off deadly jack-jawed mentally cultivated bacteria via spheres contrary to healthy living must be considered. The loathsome disease of political ********'s two party augmented devised mental syphilis of organic poisoning brought on by excessive alcohol with the consumption of unregulated bacteria loaded processed foods; and most of all, struggling through life with a hobo's mentality of degradation, in official prostitutional ******** mongering is a direct duality between bacteria and water poisoning, because bribes in all industries contributing directly in ruining the nation's pure water supply are passed onto organized thieves, turning their heads in protecting public health and the lower animal order.
First hand experience with an industry in the ship-build field is the guiding light in making accusations against OSHA as one governmental orientated department supposedly having an interest in the area of any industry with ship building or repairs. Observation was that for years oil and manure was flushed into a local river in poisoning ocean life and killing wild animals and birds while heads were turned the other way. One could observe human feces and oil drifting along year after year. The most harbored and obnoxious thought against local political syphilus was to watch fish netted and put on the local market. Much bottom feeders such as mullet found their way into local tourist traps. Openly we can note the political connection between bacteria and scoundrels being bribed in high office. The saddest thing is to note as to how OSHA wore blinds! and millions that were passed to localized political ******** through bag men or ladies.The-Red-light districts had more to offer tourism than bacteria loaded mullet; customers could enjoy river food from the local sludge flow.
Nationwide such assertions can be made. There is no confidence within many states with whom are allied with public serving rogues in feathering their own nests while helpless citizens can go straight to hell! The only answer to this whole riddle of bacteria and political ******** is to go out and vote the inefficient fools back into office. By nature, humanoids are more disposed to suffer evils ( pollution ) while evils ( politicians ) are sufferable. If the national sewer of political syphilis is allowed to expand through herd-like dispositions of a mob-like cancerous expansion then America will gradually become a national disaster of wide spread bacterial inplosion. Political ******** and enhanced as a poisonous viper
will be the eventual death and decline of a republican / democratic system will continue to roll over into a national metropolitan sewer in the hands of sickened political ******** fastening onto the innocent hides of tax-payers' Eradicate them ! back to the rural outhouses where many leaned that mother nature cannot be aborted on either end; the master political prostitute ends up as a fish out of water, where these anti-social clowns ruined the amphibian water kingdom, which balances out nature's structure, specifically the creatures, that survive in water for the most part of their existence.
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by hogorina April 26, 2011 10:32 PM EDT
COCKROACHES PLUS DEVINE GUIDANCE--- TEA PARTY
GLENN BECK SHOULD HAVE SAT WITH THE SANHEDRIN

Please allow me to give a good example of the twelve man jury system as merely a tool to perform the evil actions of which are forced upon any citizen, in that they are to judge any contrary actions to law in agreeing as to whether some one has acted offensively towards civil law. let us remember that God was tried four times and these trials took place at night in open violation of established law. Personally, i have no ties to any man-made established religions. The jury penal system relies on juries to keep them in business just as the bail bonding racket fattens thousands of judges through under then table pay offs in allowing dangerous criminals back on the streets to commit more crimes before being tried first for an original offence. I mention religion merely because juries take an oath under the ( god ) of the state, ( LIMROD ), as it travels deeper into the ancient mysteries in keeping modern day Babylonia on an even keel. In 1941, the late President, Herbert Hoover claimed that America was in the foot steps of ancient Esau, the RED, in his autobiography " THE MEMOIRS OF HERBERT HOOVER ", Pg. 354. 'The master key to control the criminals in power is the use of putting one under a sworn oath that carries a positive prison sentence if a defendant dares to oppose any legal set up that rustles the feathers of any criminal syndicate that holds sway in a state, county, or city administration. Yes, suckers head for the jury box in serving an evil system palmed off on misinfomed intelligences.
Further we must take a look at the nine appointees to the Supreme Court bench. This is a master criminal outlet of polished individuals in laboring to keep the national herd in control Yes, nine humanoids sitting as representing democracy and the people's interest. This is the mother of all lies. The key to strong arml three hundred million people lies in the hands of one single individual to break ties in the court's voting process. The President appoints an appointed individual with the advice of The National Bar Association, of which is loaded with anti-social legislation that is a counter too our to Republican form of government. In essence, this is a machine that aids in driving a supposedly free people in the furtherance of incipient universal socialism. Think of it. The tie breakers may compel our whole nation to live as appointed as an individual might desire, or rather doing the work of wire pullers in the back ground. My contention is that the Supreme Court jury and the national jury system is an evil system and needs to be over hauled. Incidentally, ( LIMROD ) was the founder of ancient Babylonia and of which all America tracks back in self-destructing.
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by GrannyCares August 19, 2010 12:11 PM EDT
Obama is quickly becoming a joke -- a very sad joke. The guy does not have a clue with respect to leading! Now that he has been told that 'Blaming Bush' is not getting it any longer, he is now BLAMING EUROPE!

I was fooled in November 2008 -- NEVER AGAIN!
Reply to this comment
by GrannyCares August 19, 2010 12:11 PM EDT
Obama is quickly becoming a joke -- a very sad joke. The guy does not have a clue with respect to leading! Now that he has been told that 'Blaming Bush' is not getting it any longer, he is now BLAMING EUROPE!

I was fooled in November 2008 -- NEVER AGAIN!
Reply to this comment
by SpankySpankster August 19, 2010 12:11 PM EDT
This is the most corrupt, unethical, anti-American, racist, political, anti-capitalist, and inept Administration and Congress in the history of the USA.
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by bramrusyt August 19, 2010 12:11 PM EDT
The whole "Bush is bad" thing was a scam for the ignorants who bought into it. Now that Obama is in charge, there are no longer daily body counts on the war, Gitmo is open but that's fine, the Patriot Act is okay, the military surge is a good idea.Do you Dems feel like idiots yet? You should.
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by bramrusyt August 19, 2010 12:11 PM EDT
The only way that he got into office is buying his way. I think that if we had voted for Mickey Mouse, we would have gotten better results of an official leader.
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by MinniePearlJam August 19, 2010 12:11 PM EDT
Even the mainstream press is now beginning to find this empty suit we have in the White House laughable.
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by OnASmallPlanet August 19, 2010 12:11 PM EDT
Just watch the news or read a paper or a blog. Everyday, someone is saying this issue or that should be Obama's top priority. And, if he isn't seen to be dealing with it that instant, he gets loudly criticized. Is it really feasible that he makes one of the many huge problems facing us THE top priority and leaves the rest until it is resolved? Who gets to decide what comes first?
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by LariatQ August 18, 2010 12:40 AM EDT
Do all "Conservative Republicans" drop to insulting remarks, whenever they are confronted with reality ? Republicans took over while President Clinton was in Office. President Clinton asked for an "easing" of Mortgage Loan Regulations, and the Republicans removed all Regulation of the Home Mortgage Industry, in 1999. President Bush (After his appointment by the Supremne Court - His First "First") then began his drive to install TEN STRAIGHT YEARS OF CORPORATE TAX CUTS.
Maybe there's a reason he was "too busy" reading a primary school book to a classroom of children, to be informed by Federal Agents THAT OUR COUNTRY WAS UNDER ATTACK. He had to finish the story, before he could take their message.
He should have given another "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" speech, when he gave away TWO TRILLION SIX HUNDRED BILLION TAX DOLLARS to his CONSERVATIVE CRIMINAL FRIENDS.
I think he and Karl Rove can be safely married now, and he should let what's her name (Laura?) know how he really feels. Cheney will understand, just like he understands his daughter.
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by RickCaird August 26, 2010 12:05 PM EDT
"Do all "Conservative Republicans" drop to insulting remarks, whenever they are confronted with reality ? " No, we laugh in the face of people like you who ignore the topic in favor of trying to claim "It is all Bush's fault".
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