LIVE VIDEO: Obama Defends Iran Deal

"President Obama delivers remarks on Wednesday about the Iran nuclear deal at American University, where President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech in 1963 on nuclear diplomacy."

UPDATE: I've replaced the live-stream with a recap.

Celebs Shill For Obama's Iran Deal

Cameo by Queen Noor of Jordan. Teabaggers are pouring into the comments at YouTube.

(Tipped by JMG reader David)

Obama: I'd Win A Third Term

Politico reports:

President Barack Obama said Tuesday that he’s confident he could win a third term, if only the Constitution would let him run. “I actually think I’m a pretty good president. I think if I ran, I would win. But I can’t,” he said. Obama said that though he’s looking forward to being out of office for the freedom outside of the security bubble it’ll give him and for being able to make more visits to Africa, there is more work he’d like to do in office. But, he said, “the law’s the law.” Obama made the remarks in a speech here to the African Union headquarters, contrasting the American system to the many African leaders who hold onto power for decades, usually only leaving because of coups or dying of old age.

I think he'd win too.

Bryan Fischer Has The Kenya Sadz

Obama Slams Huckabee And Trump

Jewish Groups Denounce Huckabee

Jewish groups have denounced Mike Huckabee after he made the above comment in an interview with Breitbart. MSNBC reports:

“Whatever one’s views of the nuclear agreement with Iran – and we have been critical of it, noting that there are serious unanswered questions that need to be addressed – comments such as those by Mike Huckabee suggesting the president is leading Israel to another Holocaust are completely out of line and unacceptable,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, in a statement.“To hear Mr. Huckabee invoke the Holocaust when America is Israel’s greatest ally and when Israel is a strong nation capable of defending itself is disheartening,” Greenblatt added. The National Jewish Democratic Council called on others in the Party to denounce Huckabee’s remarks, saying they “may be the most inexcusable we’ve encountered in recent memory.” “To state that President Obama is leading Israelis ‘to the door of the oven’ is not only disgustingly offensive to the President and the White House, but shows utter, callous disregard for the millions of lives lost in the Shoah and to the pain still felt by their descendants today,” the organization stated.

Huckabee has doubled-down on his comments in several follow-up tweets.

KENYA: President Obama Defies Critics, Speaks Out Forcefully On LGBT Rights

ABC News reports:

President Obama publicly disagreed with his Kenyan counterpart over gay rights today as he urged African nations not to discriminate against individuals based on sexual orientation. The president made the remarks at a news conference he held with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who called gay rights in his country a "non-issue." Obama discussed the subject on his first full day in Kenya while drawing on his own background as an African-American in the U.S.

"If somebody is a law-abiding citizen who is going about their business and working in a job and obeying the traffic signs and doing all the other things that good citizens are supposed to do and not harming anybody, the idea that they are going to be treated differently or abused because of who they love is wrong," Obama said.

Shortly after, Kenyatta said while the U.S. and Kenya share many values, gay rights is an issue on which the two countries disagree. "There are some things that we must agree we don't share," he said. "Our culture, our societies don't accept [homosexuality]." Kenyatta added it was difficult to impose beliefs on the Kenyan people that they "do not accept." "This issue is not really an issue that is on the foremost mind of Kenyans and that is a fact," he said.

WATCH this clip. At the end the president of Kenya dismissed everything Obama said: "For Kenyans today the issue of gay rights is really a non-issue."

Obama Backs LGBT Rights In Africa

Via the Associated Press:

President Barack Obama voiced strong support for gay rights in Africa on Thursday as he began a trip to the continent, bucking calls from some African leaders to keep his views on such controversial issues to himself. Obama, who departed Washington late Thursday for a trip to Kenya and Ethiopia, had faced criticism from rights groups and growing calls to press the issue aggressively while in a region known for a bleak record on human rights. In an interview with the BBC, Obama said he had been "blunt" with African leaders about gay rights in the past and planned to make it part of his agenda for this trip, too. Asked about Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto, a critic of gay rights in the U.S., Obama said: "Yeah, well, I disagree with him on that, don't I?" "Everybody deserves fair treatment — equal treatment — in the eyes of the law and the state," Obama said. "And that includes gays, lesbians, transgender persons." A number of Kenyan politicians and religious leaders have warned Obama in outspoken terms that any overtures on gay rights would not be welcomed in Kenya, where gay sex is punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Yesterday Obama told the BBC, "I am not a fan of discrimination and bullying of anybody on the basis of race, on the basis of religion, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender."

KENYA: Nude Protest Of Obama Canceled

The Kenya Star reports:

A nude protest against homosexuality did not take place on Wednesday following a call from State House, its organiser has said. The protest has been postponed, Republican Liberty Party leader Vincent Kidala [PHOTO] said, adding he was forced to cancel it in a 2am phone call. "The caller said President Uhuru Kenyatta is not planning to discuss gay rights with US president Barack Obama and that he is against gay rights," he told the star on phone. Kidala claimed the national security committee also cautioned against the protest in another phone call. "The unidentified caller said protesting would be like pushing for a terror attack. He said they have terror alerts and would not want to take chances," he said. Kidala said the protesters will be on stand by in case Obama talks about gay rights during his three-day visit for the 6th Global Entrepreneurship Summit.

Organizers claim 3600 protesters had registered for the event. Obama arrives in Kenya tomorrow.

Obama Jokes On Daily Show: I'm Issuing Executive Order That Stewart Must Stay

The Guardian reports:

Barack Obama mocked foes, talked up his legacy and teased Jon Stewart in a nostalgic final appearance as president on The Daily Show, providing a bittersweet farewell for the old sparring partners. “I can’t believe you’re leaving before me,” Obama told his host, who is due to retire in two weeks after 16 years in the Comedy Central hot seat. “I’m going to issue an executive order: Jon Stewart cannot leave the show. It’s being challenged in the courts.”

The two men bantered on Tuesday night’s show over Iran, Donald Trump, lost opportunities and the “Hope” posters – gentle jabs rather than blows that yielded a fond, affectionate coda to the satirical news show’s prickly relationship with the president. Obama joked that critics of the Iran nuclear deal seemed to think that “if you had brought Dick Cheney to the negotiations everything would be fine”.

Stewart, who reflected liberals’ initial euphoria and later disappointment with the Obama era, noted his guest’s recent run of victories: “It appears that you’re feeling it a little bit right now. Do you feel like seven years in …” “I know what I’m doing,” Obama interrupted. “A lot of the work that we did early starts bearing fruit late. The way I’m feeling right now is, I’ve got 18 months.” He vowed to tackle climate change and fuel-efficiency standards before leaving.

Obama To Appear On Daily Show

Via Reuters:

President Barack Obama will tape his seventh appearance on Jon Stewart's "Daily Show" in New York on Tuesday, the White House said on Friday. Obama has appeared on Comedy Central's satirical news show twice as president and four times prior to that. This is likely to be the last appearance Obama makes since Stewart has announced that he will be leaving the show on Aug. 6. The White House did not announce when the segment with Obama would air.

The final Jon Stewart show is the same night as the first GOP debate on Fox.

No, President Obama Won't Be Naming June 26th As "National Equality Day"

Several major LGBT sites including Out Magazine and Logo's NewNowNext have fallen for a satirical site's claim that President Obama will be naming June 26th as a federal holiday to be called National Equality Day. There is a Change.org petition for just that, but so far it has 98 signatures. Lovely idea, but not happening.

Breitbart Closes Comments On Story About Death Threat Against President Obama

Gosh, why do you think they won't let their readers comment on a story about a man who said this on his Facebook page: "The usurper is here and if I get a chance I’ll take him out and I’ll take the shot."

Obama Mocks GOP 2016 "Hunger Games"

"They’re going to be making a whole bunch of stuff up, and when I say a lot of stuff, I mean a lot of stuff. You know, we’ve got some healthy competition in the Democratic Party, but I’ve lost count on how many Republicans are running for this job. They’ll have enough for an actual Hunger Games. That is an interesting bunch." - Barack Obama, speaking today in Wisconsin. May the odd ever not be in their favor.

US And Cuba To Open Embassies

Via Yahoo News:

U.S. President Barack Obama affirmed to Cuban President Raul Castro their decision to restore diplomatic relations and said the former Cold War enemies could reopen embassies in each other's capitals beginning July 20, the Caribbean country said on Wednesday. Cuba's foreign ministry cited a letter, which Obama addressed to Castro, that it received from the senior U.S. diplomat in Havana. Following 18 months of secret negotiations brokered by Pope Francis and Canada, the two leaders announced separately but simultaneously in December that they planned to reopen embassies in each other's capitals and normalize relations. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected at a flag-raising ceremony in Havana later this month, when the U.S. interests section will become a full embassy. Cuba's mission in Washington will undergo a similar upgrade.

Franklin Graham Has The Rainbow Sadz

"The President had the White House lit up in rainbow colors to celebrate the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage. This is outrageous—a real slap in the face to the millions of Americans who do not support same-sex marriage and whose voice is being ignored. God is the one who gave the rainbow, and it was associated with His judgment. God sent a flood to wipe out the entire world because mankind had become so wicked and violent. One man, Noah, was found righteous and escaped God’s judgment with his family. The rainbow was a sign to Noah that God would not use the flood again to judge the world. But one day God is going to judge sin—all sin. Only those who are found righteous will be able to escape His judgment. That righteousness comes through faith, believing on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ who took our sins and shed His blood on the cross for each and every one. So, when we see the gay pride rainbow splashed on business advertisements and many people’s Facebook pages, may it remind all of us of God’s judgment to come. Are you ready? Are your sins forgiven?" - Franklin Graham, posting to Facebook.

Bill O'Reilly Has The Rainbow Sadz

President Obama Breaks Into "Amazing Grace" During Charleston Eulogy

The eulogy started out very somber and presidential, but became increasing preacher-like as it went on. And then Obama did something that will battle gay marriage for tomorrow's headlines.

President Obama Delivers Celebratory Speech On Marriage Equality Victory

President Obama Calls Jim Obergefell