Obama: Being a good father isn't easy


President Barack Obama holds a child a he mingles in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 14, 2013, where he hosted a Father's Day luncheon. Obama hosted fathers and their children as well as students and leaders from the Becoming a Man program at Hyde Park Academy in Chicago for the lunch. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) | Zoom

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says there's no substitute for the love and support that fathers provide.

In his weekly Internet and radio address, Obama is wishing Americans a happy Father's Day. He's laments that his own father wasn't around and says he's still working to be a better father.

Obama says being a dad isn't easy for anyone _ gay, straight, grandparent or foster parent. He says he wants to encourage marriage and strong families by reforming child support laws to get more fathers engaged. He says businesses, faith groups and communities have a role to play.

In the Republican address, Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee says the Education Department has become like a national school board. He says Republicans have a plan to give state and local authorities more control.

___

Online:

Obama address: http://www.whitehouse.gov

GOP address: http://www.youtube.com/gopweeklyaddress


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Top Stories

  • Bridge Opening
    A temporary bridge span across the Skagit River will be opening Wednesday

  • What to Eat?
    Woman living on light reveals what her first meal will be after 47 days without food

  • How To Fight Back
    Upset with the NSA? Just talk like a terrorist, all the time
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (157)


  • Add A Comment

  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    i like how they make it sound like Obama is doing us a favor cutting his traditional family vacation short....
    the Obama administration has made it so i will never be able to afford a Hawaiian vacation now that my taxes are going up and i will be forced with the burden of purchasing govt mandates insurance...Obama does not care about America or Americans.....welcome to the financial holocaust brought to you by the almighty dumbocrats and liberal twitts. I don't understand how when i run out of money i have to stop spending......when the govt runs out of money.....they just borrow, print, and spend more...and people are okay with this????
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    YES! We can avoid the cliff.
    Make the clown eared man child work with the American people for once and COMPROMISE!. This is all on the Dear Leader.

    We Americans and more and more former Obama supporters realize this!

    2014!!!!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Hey, Barry
    Concentrate on NOT bankrupting our country and leave the 2nd Amendment alone!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Obama wants gun violence measures passed in 2013
    Translation of ObamaSpeak: I want the Second amendment abolished as soon as possible!

    Revenge!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    Things are going exactly as planned for Chief of Fools.
    Dreams From My Father.The bible of the socialist left.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    ch
    how about WE AMERICANS, the one's who did not vote for your Dear Leader, win the midterms and whoever you Left wingers run in 16 is Shellacked by a Conservative American.

    Can't wait to hear you BOO HOOING when this happens!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    2014
    ch!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    just keep raising that limit Obama
    my children's children's children want to pay back what you spent for century's to come. Great job Barack! (He obviously does not know what limit and debt mean...)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Talking up the recovery..(Recovery what Recovery)
    No debt limit increase until the spending problem is addressed "enough is enough"!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    ACTION, Were his lips moving ??? you know what they say about that ??
    From someone that is about talking, and not doing.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }