Remarks at a Barbeque for Young Men June 19, 2009

June 19 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2009 his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng; his brother-in-law trepreneur Oprah Winfrey; and his mother-in- Craig Robinson; television personality and en- law Marian Robinson. Remarks at a Barbeque for Young Men June 19, 2009 Hello, everybody. Everybody have a seat. you will internalize, because all of you are Now, first of all, let’s give thanks that it’s not probably going to end up being fathers. And raining, because we thought it might be and the time is now, to start thinking about what we were worried that Bobby would be sending that means in terms of responsibilities, what it smoke into the White House. But it’s a beauti- means to be a man. And the men who ful day. are—you’re going to be sitting with today, I I want to personally acknowledge, once think, exemplify—whether they’re famous or again—they’ve already been introduced, but I not famous, rich or not so rich, they embody want to introduce them because some of you that spirit of love and dedication and commit- young people are sitting with them—you may ment that fatherhood is all about. not know who you’re sitting with—the extraor- So we appreciate all of you. I don’t want to dinary men who are participating in this event get in the way of the food. Thank you for par- today. First of all, Chief Quartermaster John ticipating. Hope you guys have a good time. Lehnen—thank you so much, John. Some of And to all the fathers out there, happy Father’s you may know this guy, Dwyane Wade. I hear Day. All right? he plays basketball pretty good. [Laughter] Etan Thomas, another ballplayer; Joseph NOTE: The President spoke at 4:25 p.m. on Jones, Center for Urban Families; Greg the South Lawn at the White House. In his re- Brown, who is the CEO of Motorola; Antwaan marks, he referred to CPO John Lehnen, Randle El, outstanding football player; Dr. USN, Command Naval Reserve Force Com- Steve Rosen, Northwestern Cancer Center; mand, Transportation Command, Norfolk, Jorge Ramos, one of the premier journalists in VA; Dwyane Wade, guard, National Basketball the country; B.D. Wong, outstanding actor; Association’s Miami Heat; Etan Thomas, cen- Tony Hawk, who is the best skateboarder in ter, National Basketball Association’s Wash- the world; Coach Bill Cowher of the champi- ington Wizards; Joseph T. Jones, Jr., founder, onship Steelers; Darryl “DMC” McDaniels; president, and chief executive officer, Center Mike Laas, who is a small businessman; Sena- for Urban Families; Antwaan Randle El, wide tor Evan Bayh, former colleague of ours; Fa- receiver, National Football League’s Washing- therhood Dads, Inc., president David Ladd; ton Redskins; Steven T. Rosen, director, Rob- the president of Morehouse College, Dr. Rob- ert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, ert Franklin; as well as some of the outstand- Northwestern University; Bill Cowher, for- ing members of my staff—Mike Strautmanis, mer head coach, National Football League’s Denis McDonough, Reggie Love. And we also Pittsburgh Steelers; Darryl “DMC” McDan- want to thank Bobby Flay, one of the best iels, member of the hip-hop group Run DMC; chefs in the world, for providing us with these Mike Laas, president, James H. Laas Compa- unbelievably good-looking grub over here. ny; Chief of Staff to the Assistant to the Presi- I don’t want to talk long. I want to come dent for Intergovernmental Relations and around and say hello to everybody. I just want Public Engagement Michael Strautmanis; to thank all of you for participating. For the Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic young people who are here today, I just hope Communications Denis R. McDonough; and that the message that we’re sending out about Personal Aide to the President Reginald L. how important fathers are is something that Love. 864.

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