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December 20th, 2008 at 11:21 am

President-Elect Barack Obama Weekly Address Video, Photos 12-20-08

in: New Media, Politics, Radio

Barack Obama press conference announcing Arne Duncan as Education Secretary, December 16, 2008

President-elect Barack  Obama delivered his weekly address via YouTube and radio on December 20, 2008.  He introduced members of his science and technology team.  Watch the video and see photos of the new science team members and photos of Obama at a December 16, 2008 press conference introducing Chicago Schools Superintendent Arne Duncan as his education secretary-designee.

In the science team rollout, Obama stressed his intentions to adhere solely to scientific facts.

“The truth is that promoting science isn’t just about providing resources—it’s about protecting free and open inquiry. It’s about ensuring that facts and evidence are never twisted or obscured by politics or ideology. It’s about listening to what our scientists have to say, even when it’s inconvenient—especially when it’s inconvenient. Because the highest purpose of science is the search for knowledge, truth and a greater understanding of the world around us. That will be my goal as President of the United States—and I could not have a better team to guide me in this work.”

Dr. John Holdren

John P. Holdren (photo source: NCSE)

The science team members include Dr. John Holdren who will serve as Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Co-Chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) which he described as “a vigorous external advisory council that will shape my thinking on the scientific aspects of my policy priorities.”

Dr Holdren is a renown physicist who has done important work in the field of climate change and energy.  He is presently professor and Director of the Program on Science, Technology, and Public Policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, as well as President and Director of the Woods Hole Research Center.

Harold Varmus Eric Lander

(L-R) Harold Varmus, Eric Lander (Photo credit: FCIHR, MIT)

Obama announced Dr. Harold Varmus and Dr. Eric Lander as the other co-chairs of PCAST.  He also announced Dr. Jane Lubchenco as head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Jane Lubchenco
Jane Lubchenco (Photo credit: Oregon State University)

The president-elect promised a different approach on science from President George W. Bush. Varmus, who served at the National Institute of Health during President Bill Clinton’s administration, was among more than 60 scientists who signed a petition in 2004 accusing the administration of manipulating scientific findings for political reasons, which Bush aides denied.

Source: Obama Names Harvard’s Holdren, 3 Other Scientists as Advisers


See also: Weekly Address Transcript 12-20-08 via Change.gov

Barack Obama press conference announcing Arne Duncan as Education Secretary, December 16, 2008

Barack Obama press conference announcing Arne Duncan as Education Secretary, December 16, 2008 

Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Arne Duncan at Dodge Renaissance Academy in Chicago

Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Arne Duncan at Dodge Renaissance Academy in Chicago, December 16, 2008

Photo credit: Getty Images North America See more photos on Obama-Biden Flickr

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President-Elect Barack Obama Weekly Address Video, Photos 12-20-08 pics pictures


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