Virginia Beach Rep. Scott Rigell (R) is a relatively new member of Congress and as a result, he doesn't have very much power in Washington. However the two term Congressman represents one of the areas that stands to be hit the hardest by sequester. Tuesday he was granted something few Republican members of Congress have had in quite some time, a one on one meeting with President Barack Obama.
Rigell and Obama met around Obama's visit to a Newport News Shipyard. After the meeting with the President the Congressman made it clear to his constituents that things do not look good.
"Sequestration, an
alternative described by both Republicans and Democrats as reckless, now seems
inevitable," Rigell said in a statement following the meeting.
While Rigell expressed disappointment with the White House, he was not afraid to lay some of the blame on his fellow Congressional Republicans.
"I shared with the
President my concern that the Administration has not provided a definitive
legislative alternative to sequestration. Though the conversation was
substantive, my concern on these critical topics remain," he said. "Equally concerning is
the recently announced position by the Republican Conference that any agreement
to avert sequestration that contains any additional revenue will not be
considered."
Rigell's full statement can be found below:
“At my request, today
I met with President Obama to discuss the need to stop sequestration. I shared
with the President my concern that the Administration has not provided a
definitive legislative alternative to sequestration. Though the conversation
was substantive, my concern on these critical topics remain. Equally concerning
is the recently announced position by the Republican Conference that any
agreement to avert sequestration that contains any additional revenue will not
be considered. Given the two positions, sequestration, an alternative described
by both Republicans and Democrats as reckless, now seems inevitable. As a
result, hard working Americans, including many who call Hampton Roads home,
will suffer. National security will suffer as well. Given the severity of the consequences,
this is unacceptable. I continue to call on the President and leadership from
both parties to put what is best for our country ahead of all else.” -Rep. Scott Rigell
Rigell is not alone. On the other side of the isle, Senator Mark Warner seemed almost sullen in a lengthy interview I had with him on the topic.
Warner haw some hope for a Senate compromise bill that makes cuts equal to any revenue increases, but when I asked if he thought that bill could get through the House he said he doubted that it will even pass the Senate.
Warner said he gets why this pending fiscal disaster is driving people nuts.
"The sequester was set up, it was supposed
to be so awful so stupid that no rational group of people would allow this to
happen," Warner, of course is a member of that group of people that was supposed to be not rational enough to let this happen.
He seems incredibly frustrated that no headway can be made.
"Now we are looking at something that is three days away after we just
came out of a New Year's Eve debacle where we are right up against the wall
again," he said. "Why we are waiting until the 11 and half hour for each one of these
budget crises which are all manufactured is beyond me."
Our full interview with Warner can be found below:
President Barack Obama's 5th State of the Union was significant and one that sets the stage for the next four years.
He touched on a number of important topics, including an emotional flurry on the end related to gun control.
Here is my story for NBC12:
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WWBT)- It may be the most important State of the Union of his presidency.
President Barack Obama made the case to the country for an expansion of
programs designed to encourage innovation and jobs, while at the same time not
adding to the deficit.
The president knew Tuesday night was important. He packed in a long list of
second term goals and challenged Congressional Republicans to get on board as a
partner, not a rival.
He came to Capitol Hill ready to go to work.
"It is our generation's task, then, to reignite the true engine of America's
economic growth - a rising, thriving middle class," Obama said.
In an almost 20 page speech, obama confronted some of the nation's biggest
challenges.
Like the economy and jobs.
On housing, the president proposed a plan to make it easier to refinance
their mortgage.
Obama ran the gamut on education, from pre-k all the way to post graduate
school.
On immigration reform, he did not mince words.
"The time has come to pass comprehensive immigration reform," he said. "Let's
get it done."
He also spent a quite a bit of time on equality, calling for the Violence
Against Women Act to be renewed, A pay equality measure to be passed, and a
headline: raising the minimum wage to nine dollars.
As expected, he called for more than thirty thousand troops to return home
from Afghanistan.
But he closed in a flurry on one of the most divisive issues of the day, gun
control.
"We were never sent here to be perfect. We were sent here to make what
difference we can, to secure this nation, expand opportunity, and uphold our
ideals through the hard, often frustrating, but absolutely necessary work of
self-government," said the president.
I am up in Washington, D.C. tonight for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. Prior to the speech I caught up with some the Virginia's congressional delegation. Both Republicans and Democrats want a path to an end to the sequestration budget stalemate.
Here is my report for NBC12:
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WWBT)- Virginians from ever corner of the Commonwealth will be keeping a close eye on one particular issue in tonight's State of the Union address.
Sequestration, set to
take effect on March 1st could mean huge cuts to defense and government jobs
throughout Virginia. In fact, there may be no state in the union
with a more at stake than Virginia when it comes to the sequester, and the
entire congressional delegation knows it
"Virginia families are going to
be disproportionately hurt," said Sen. Mark Warner (D) this afternoon. "Sequestration basically says we are going to
chop every part of government whether it is working or not and as a former
business guy that is not the smart way to do budgeting."
Warner understands that
the idea of lopping off funding to almost all of government without any plan won't
work. He isn't alone, this weekend Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Henrico) gave similar sentiments on NBC's Meet The Press.
"These indiscriminate reductions do not
make sense and we are going to hurt a lot of people and it is up to the President to act now," said Cantor.
And even though Cantor is a republican. Democrat Sen. Tim Kaine, who played no part in the sequestration being implemented
agrees with the Henrico Republican. Tonight the president needs to lead the charge to solve
the problem.
"I want the president to talk to tough to
all of us," Kaine said. "Republican, Democrat House, Senate about finding the alternative to
sequester."
NBC's live coverage of the State of the Union starts at 9pm. You can also join our livechat and watch the speech streaming on NBC12.com.
I'll have another live report tonight at 11 on NBC12.
It is probably not something Americans will not believe until they actually see it happen. Monday on Inauguration Day, a day when everyone comes together, both President Barack Obama and his chief rival Rep. Eric Cantor (R- Henrico) say they time to find common ground is now.
(We talked to Rep. Cantor before the Inauguration in the Cannon House Office Building)
There is plenty at stake and big battles on gun control, the debt celing and the budget loom. Can they put the elections behind them? It won't be long until we find out.
Here is my story for NBC12:
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WWBT)- On Monday we heard the president talk about the importance of working
together, but a speech at an inauguration is one thing.
Can it actually turn into something?
We asked two people from Virginia, who will play a central role in that
discussion.
President Obama made it clear; the time for partisan battles is over.
"Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role
of government for all time," he said. "But it does require us to act in our
time."
Henrico Congressman Eric Cantor, perhaps the president's biggest rival,
agrees.
"We are all one," said Cantor. "We are here united as a people around our
leader Commander-in-Chief."
While Cantor said he is ready to deal, he also made it clear that there are
some things that are non-negotiable.
"We all have differences as people do," Cantor said. "But the focus on today
is setting those things aside and trying to find ways we can work together."
Virginia's newest senator Tim Kaine said disagreements are a part of
politics. It's how you handle those disagreements that matter.
"These are the basic rules that anybody in a PTA, on a Parish Council,
anybody in a family knows," said Kaine. "We listen to each other. There has got
to be some compromise, some give and take."
Kaine believes that if you can remain civil during the most heated
confrontations, it is much easier to find common ground where it exists.
"If you just stay friends and communicate, you are going to find other areas
where you can make headway," he said.
After two years of perpetually campaigning, the president spent Monday
morning promising a new day. Not many of the players have changed, and he
argues, time is running out.
"For now decisions are upon us and we cannot afford delay," he said.
Here is the full transcript of President Barack Obama's 2013 Inaugural Address:
Remarks of
President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery
Inaugural Address
Monday, January 21,
2013
Washington, DC
As
Prepared for Delivery –
Vice
President Biden, Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the United States Congress,
distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:
Each
time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduring
strength of our Constitution. We affirm the promise of our
democracy. We recall that what binds this nation together is not the
colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our
names. What makes us exceptional – what makes us American – is our
allegiance to an idea, articulated in a declaration made more than two
centuries ago:
“We
hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these
are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Today
we continue a never-ending journey, to bridge the meaning of those words with
the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths
may be self-evident, they have never been self-executing; that while freedom is
a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Earth. The
patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the
privileges of a few or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a Republic, a
government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep
safe our founding creed.
For
more than two hundred years, we have.
Through
blood drawn by lash and blood drawn by sword, we learned that no union founded
on the principles of liberty and equality could survive half-slave and
half-free. We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forward together.
Together,
we determined that a modern economy requires railroads and highways to speed
travel and commerce; schools and colleges to train our workers.
Together,
we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure
competition and fair play.
Together,
we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its
people from life’s worst hazards and misfortune.
Through
it all, we have never relinquished our skepticism of central authority, nor
have we succumbed to the fiction that all society’s ills can be cured through
government alone. Our celebration of initiative and enterprise; our
insistence on hard work and personal responsibility, are constants in our
character.
But
we have always understood that when times change, so must we; that fidelity to
our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges; that
preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action.
For the American people can no more meet the demands of today’s world by acting
alone than American soldiers could have met the forces of fascism or communism
with muskets and militias. No single person can train all the math and
science teachers we’ll need to equip our children for the future, or build the
roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to
our shores. Now, more than ever, we must do these things together, as one
nation, and one people.
This
generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and
proved our resilience. A decade of war is now ending. An economic
recovery has begun. America’s possibilities are limitless, for we possess
all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands: youth and
drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for
reinvention. My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and
we will seize it – so long as we seize it together.
For
we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few
do very well and a growing many barely make it. We believe that America’s
prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class.
We know that America thrives when every person can find independence and pride
in their work; when the wages of honest labor liberate families from the brink
of hardship. We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the
bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else,
because she is an American, she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes
of God but also in our own.
We
understand that outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time.
We must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp our
tax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens with the skills they
need to work harder, learn more, and reach higher. But while the means
will change, our purpose endures: a nation that rewards the effort and
determination of every single American. That is what this moment
requires. That is what will give real meaning to our creed.
We,
the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of
security and dignity. We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of
health care and the size of our deficit. But we reject the belief that
America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country
and investing in the generation that will build its future. For we remember
the lessons of our past, when twilight years were spent in poverty, and parents
of a child with a disability had nowhere to turn. We do not believe that
in this country, freedom is reserved for the lucky, or happiness for the
few. We recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives, any
one of us, at any time, may face a job loss, or a sudden illness, or a home
swept away in a terrible storm. The commitments we make to each other – through
Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security – these things do not sap our
initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers;
they free us to take the risks that make this country great.
We,
the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to
ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate
change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future
generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science,
but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling
drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy
sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist
this transition; we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the
technology that will power new jobs and new industries – we must claim its
promise. That is how we will maintain our economic vitality and our
national treasure – our forests and waterways; our croplands and snowcapped
peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by
God. That’s what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once
declared.
We,
the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not
require perpetual war. Our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by
the flames of battle, are unmatched in skill and courage. Our citizens,
seared by the memory of those we have lost, know too well the price that is
paid for liberty. The knowledge of their sacrifice will keep us forever
vigilant against those who would do us harm. But we are also heirs to
those who won the peace and not just the war, who turned sworn enemies into the
surest of friends, and we must carry those lessons into this time as well.
We
will defend our people and uphold our values through strength of arms and rule
of law. We will show the courage to try and resolve our differences with
other nations peacefully – not because we are naïve about the dangers we face,
but because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear. America
will remain the anchor of strong alliances in every corner of the globe; and we
will renew those institutions that extend our capacity to manage crisis abroad,
for no one has a greater stake in a peaceful world than its most powerful
nation. We will support democracy from Asia to Africa; from the Americas
to the Middle East, because our interests and our conscience compel us to act
on behalf of those who long for freedom. And we must be a source of hope
to the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the victims of prejudice – not out of
mere charity, but because peace in our time requires the constant advance of
those principles that our common creed describes: tolerance and
opportunity; human dignity and justice.
We,
the people, declare today that the most evident of truths – that all of us are
created equal – is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our
forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all
those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall,
to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that
our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on
Earth.
It
is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began. For
our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can
earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until
our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for
if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another
must be equal as well. Our journey is not complete until no citizen is
forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. Our journey is
not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants
who still see America as a land of opportunity; until bright young students and
engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our
country. Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the
streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown,
know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm.
That
is our generation’s task – to make these words, these rights, these values – of
Life, and Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness – real for every
American. Being true to our founding documents does not require us to
agree on every contour of life; it does not mean we will all define liberty in
exactly the same way, or follow the same precise path to happiness. Progress
does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of
government for all time – but it does require us to act in our time.
For
now decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay. We cannot mistake
absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat
name-calling as reasoned debate. We must act, knowing that our work will
be imperfect. We must act, knowing that today’s victories will be only
partial, and that it will be up to those who stand here in four years, and
forty years, and four hundred years hence to advance the timeless spirit once
conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.
My
fellow Americans, the oath I have sworn before you today, like the one recited
by others who serve in this Capitol, was an oath to God and country, not party
or faction – and we must faithfully execute that pledge during the duration of
our service. But the words I spoke today are not so different from the
oath that is taken each time a soldier signs up for duty, or an immigrant
realizes her dream. My oath is not so different from the pledge we all
make to the flag that waves above and that fills our hearts with pride.
They
are the words of citizens, and they represent our greatest hope.
You
and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country’s course.
You
and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time – not
only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most
ancient values and enduring ideals.
Let
each of us now embrace, with solemn duty and awesome joy, what is our lasting
birthright. With common effort and common purpose, with passion and
dedication, let us answer the call of history, and carry into an uncertain
future that precious light of freedom.
Thank
you, God Bless you, and may He forever bless these United States of America.
It was something that his opponent in the race for U.S. Senate, George Allen, attempted to drag him down with. Sen. Tim Kaine is a close personal friend of Barack Obama. It is a friendship that was built in the early stages of Obama's first run for president. Despite Obama's tenuous status in Virginia, Kaine never wavered in his support of his friend. When the votes were cast the partnership forged early in 2007 stood strong. Obama heading back to the White House, Kaine taking one of Virginia's two Senate Seats.
(We caught up with Kaine in Washington on the day before the Inauguration)
"It's very touching, and humbling," said Kaine. "No president before this president ever cared what I thought about anything."
On the eve of Obama's public swearing in, Kaine is a different position then he was four years ago. He was completing his term as governor and had taken on the role of DNC Chair. Now he is a member of the U.S. Senate and while he continues to maintain that close relationship with Obama, his first priority will be Virginia. Kaine said it will be essential that this congress gets off to a fast start.
"I think the 112th Congress will go down as a flame out on the working together side," Kaine said. 'The 113th has to do better and there 15 new members and that means a lot of people coming in. As I start get to get to know them, we are learning that while we come from different places politically, we all have the sense that we were sent here to get some things done."
Kaine wants to get to work as soon as possible.
An extended clip from our interview can be found below:
It is not a surprise that Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D- Chicago) had nothing but good things to say about President Barack Obama when we were granted a lengthy interview with the former Chief of Staff this afternoon.
(Emanuel spoke to us from the Obama Headquarters in Chicago)
Emanuel
is extremely tight with the president. The two both hail from Chicago,
and served in the same delegation of members of congress from Illinois.
He served as the president's Chief of Staff for roughly a year and half
before mounting a successful run for Mayor of his hometown. Emanuel has
seen President Obama in action when disasters hit and believes his cool
demeanor helps everything run efficiently.
"You
have now seen what a federal government can do to step in help cities
and help communities," Emanuel said. "Even Governor Christie from New Jersey recognized this and thanked the president personally for it."
This week, democrats have attacked Mitt Romney for suggesting in the past that FEMA
did not need to play as important role in disaster relief as it
currently does. The republican has argued that local
governments know their community best and should lead the recovery
effort. Emanuel, now a mayor himself, agrees local leaders need
authority, but believes it helps to have the global view that the White House
provides.
"The federal
government can marshall resources that every community and every
government cannot do on their own," he said. "Only the Commander in
Chief, only the president can make sure everyone is pulling their oar in
the same direction."
While it is still too early to estimate the public's
response to the president's handling of Super Storm Sandy, republicans
continue to remain on the attack when it comes to the tragedy in Libya.
Libya represents another example of a fast moving situation, where many
different stake holders are in play, but the White House is the ultimate
authority.
Republicans
argue that the Obama Administration's response was slow and inconsistent
and that decisions made prior to the attack on the Benghazi Consulate
may have lead to the tragedy. Emanuel, who has been in the White House
situation room, said we need to wait to see what the investigations into
the incident reveal.
"What
the president did is what a Commander-in-Chief needs to do," he said.
"One- comfort those who lost families, two- order and entire review of
what happened and three find those responsible and bring justice those
responsible as he did with Osama bin Laden."
When
pressed on the mixed messages from senior Obama administration leaders,
Emanuel defended the response, saying that when multiple intelligence
agencies are sending in information, it is difficult to get a clear
picture of exactly what took place.
"It
is evolving when you had an incident like that," he said. "What you
shouldn't be doing is rushing to judgement on exactly what happened
there."
It remains an issue
still up for debate, but given the shortening campaign schedule it will
be difficult for it to be fully vetted before election day, especially
with the intense political spotlight.
Our
full interview with Mayor Emanuel, which includes his take on the direction
of close battlegrounds in the midwest, can be found below:
15 thousand is a difficult number to argue with. There is no doubt the crowd Barack Obama drew today in Richmond was impressive. It is the biggest crowd his campaign has drawn in Virginia since the start of the 2012 campaign.
Huge crowds don't always lead to huge vote totals, but the impressive turnout should provide some perspective on the idea that Team Obama is moving it's forces to other battlegrounds. While it is difficult to aruge that Virginia is more important than Ohio, there is little evidence to suggest that the Obama campaign feels that they can't win Virginia. Today was one example of that committment.
Republicans could argue that this was a perfect place for Obama to hold a rally. In the heart of one of the most democratic regions of the state. But 15 thousand people is 15 thousand people and that is a difficult number to argue with.
RICHMOND (WWBT)- We are closing in on Election Day and Virginia remains one of the most important states on the electoral map. Despite momentum for the republican ticket, President Barack Obama showed Thursday that he is fighting to win Virginia for a second time.
If there was ever a time that President Obama needed to see a big crowd in Virginia, it was today, and Richmonders showed up in droves.
"Are you ready to go,' he asked.
Roughly 15 thousand people heard Mr. Obama make the case that he plans to win in Virginia.
"We'll win Richmond,” he shouted to cheers. “We'll win the Commonwealth of Virginia. We'll win this election."
But with his opponent Mitt Romney surging in the polls, Virginia may be less important to an Obama strategy to get to 270 electoral votes, the number needed to win.
Republicans like Pete Snyder, the chair of the coordinated Virginia Victory 2012 group, claim the GOP is "all in" on a Virginia win.
"We have an entire state, if not country that is really hungry for economic change and path forward,” Snyder said. “That is what they get in Romney/Ryan."
Thursday's crowd was filled with people like Melissa Paige. She arrived at 5 am to see the president. Her enthusiasm may be one small indication that democrats aren't ready to give away even one electoral vote from Virginia.
"Re-elections are always important,” she said. “They are always going to be important."
Obama himself isn’t giving up on anything either. He was in the midst of a 48 hour sprint across the country, and you could hear in his voice. It was a little bit hoarse and he seemed just a little bit tired, but not giving any less in a final push to the finish.
The decision to switch President Barack Obama's visit to Richmond from a simple quick stop at the airport to a huge event at Byrd Park looks like it has paid off.
Crowds started arriving as early as 6am to navigate the difficult logistics that were neccessary to gain access to the event. The president isn't expected to arrive here until after 1pm but already a huge crowd is standing by, braving increasingly warm temperatures and a glaring, bright sun.
This is part of a six state swing by the president, that will conclude tonight with a rally in Ohio. He will also be the first president in history to cast his ballot early, when he votes this evening in Chicago.
We will have complete coverage of the president's visit. I'll have a live preview coming up at Noon. We will stream the president's remarks live on NBC12.com.
Bruce Springsteen has already done quite a bit for President Obama's re-election campaign but Tuesday during a free concert in Charlottesville he took it a step further. He shared a personal "campaign song" that he wrote for the president.
It is a song he jokingly said was borne out of several late night phone calls from the president.
Here is the song performed by Springsteen, which includes his impression of the Commander-in-Chief:
About five thousand people showed up for the midweek, afternoon show. Not all of them were Obama supporters.
Here is my story for NBC12:
CHARLOTTESVILLE (WWBT)- Tuesday marks the start of a busy political week in Virginia. Not only will both candidates for president be here, but so are some of their high profile supporters.
Bruce Springsteen is one of those supporters. He was in Charlottesville today to perform for free in support of President Obama's re-election.
Springsteen is a big enough star, that he attracts fans from all walks of life. And despite headlining an event for President Obama, we caught up with some fans that put the politics aside, just to hear his music.
The entire event only lasted about an hour, and he only sang for roughly 25 minutes. But his voice and his presence were unmistakable.
"I believe in the promise land," Springsteen crooned.
It was the promise of hearing “promise land” in a unique, acoustic setting that led John Johnson to check out the free concert. He has tickets to see “The Boss” later at John Paul Jones Arena.
"It will be different Bruce show than with all the lights and that," Johnson told us ahead of time.
What Johnson wasn't interested in was the star's politics.
"It doesn't matter to me,” he said. “It’s about the music."
In fact no matter what Springsteen had to say, Johnson couldn't be convinced. He has already cast his ballot for president in North Carolina, and it wasn't for The Boss' candidate.
"I'm a Romney supporter," he told us.
But Johnson was in the clear minority in this group. Springsteen's message of support for Obama was received enthusiastically. It made many like Ruth Jolley love the rock star even more than she already does.
"He is really nice to do it and Mr. Obama deserves his support,” she said. “I'm really proud of Bruce Springsteen and I'm really proud of President Obama."
