USA TODAY — PRESS & SUN-BULLETIN

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017 E2 3B

‘I BELIEVE IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE’: IN BRIEF

GEORGE H.W. BUSH IN ICU,

OBAMA MEETS PRESS FOR LAST TIME

WIFE ALSO HOSPITALIZED

Former president George H.W.

Bush, 92, is in the intensive care

President calls it a wrap in an optimistic, wide-ranging session
Gregory Korte
@gregorykorte
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON President Obama
brimmed with optimism in an
upbeat final news conference
Wednesday, championing Ameri-
ca’s diversity and encouraging cit-
izens to do more to advance
voting rights.
“I believe in this country. I be-
lieve in the American people,”
Obama said in a warm farewell to
reporters. “I believe that people
are more good than bad. I believe
tragic things happen. I think
there’s evil in the world. But I
think at the end of the day, if we
work hard and if we’re true to
those things in us that feel true
and feel right, that the world gets
a little better each time.
“That’s what this presidency
has tried to be about,” he said.
Obama used his last news con-
ference to defend his decision to
release Army Pvt. Chelsea Man-
ning, convicted of espionage for
leaking secrets to WikiLeaks — as
in the interests of justice. “I
looked at the particulars of this
case the same way I have the oth-
er commutations and pardons
that I’ve done. And I felt that in
light of all the circumstances, that
commuting her sentence was en-
tirely appropriate,” he said.
And he left with some words
for the White House press corps.
“You’re not supposed to be syco-
phants, you’re supposed to be
skeptics. You’re supposed to ask
me tough questions. You’re not
supposed to be complimentary,
but you’re supposed to cast a
critical eye on folks who hold
enormous power and make sure
that we are accountable to the
people who sent us here,” he said.
“And you have done that.”
But in a crowded White House
briefing room, Obama carefully
selected reporters from foreign
and specialty news outlets, all
but ensuring he would answer
“I think at
the end of
the day, if
we work
hard and if
we’re true to
those things
in us that feel
true and feel
right, that the
world gets a
little better
each time.”
President Obama was in an optimistic mood Wednesday for
his final news conference as president.
questions on immigration, the
Middle East, gay rights and race
relations.
In perhaps his strongest lan-
guage, he condemned efforts to
restrict voting and dismissed re-
ports of widespread voter fraud
as “fake news.”
“There’s an ugly history to that
that we should not be shy about
talking about. Yes, I’m talking
about voting rights,” Obama said.
“It traces directly back to Jim
Crow and the legacy of slavery,
and it became acceptable to re-
strict the franchise. That’s not
who we are. That shouldn’t be
who we are. That’s not how
America works best.”
In keeping with an unabashed-
ly optimistic tone, Obama also ac-
knowledged that the country has
made progress on racial and so-
cial issues, and he promised he
won’t be the last black president.
ERIK S. LESSER, EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY
“If, in fact, we continue to keep
opportunity open to everybody,
then, yes, we’re going to have a
woman president, we’re going to
have a Latino president, and we’ll
have a Jewish president, a Hindu
president. Who knows who we’re
going to have?”
Obama said he’s particularly
proud of the “transformation” on
gay rights during his presidency,
which saw monumental Supreme
Court decisions on gays in the
military and same-sex marriage.
Obama said his role was mostly to
deliver “a good block downfield to
help the movement advance.”
He said gay and lesbian activ-
ists deserve most of the credit,
and he singled out talk-show host
Ellen DeGeneres, to whom he
awarded the Presidential Medal
of Freedom last year.
“Somebody that kind and lik-
able, projecting into living rooms
unit for “an acute respiratory prob-
lem stemming from pneumonia,” a
family spokesman said Thursday.
around the country — that Former first lady Barbara Bush
changed attitudes. ... And that’s also is in Houston Methodist Hos-
just one example of what was pital “after experiencing fatigue
happening in countless commu- and coughing,” Jim McGrath said.
nities around the country.” Bush went into the hospital for
Other topics: shortness of breath.
uOn the Israeli-Palestin- “President Bush is stable and
ian conflict: The decision by the resting comfortably in the ICU,”
United States not to veto a reso- McGrath said. — David Jackson
lution condemning Israel’s West
Bank settlements was to prompt RUSSIA EXTENDS RESIDENCE
both sides to take the two-state PERMIT FOR SNOWDEN
solution more seriously.
“It was important for us to Russian authorities have extend-
send a signal, a wake-up call, that ed Edward Snowden’s residence
this moment may be passing, and permit by a “couple of years,” a gov-
Israeli voters and Palestinians ernment spokesperson said. He is
need to understand that this mo- accused of violating the espionage
ment may be passing,” he said. act by leaking details of secret sur-
But Obama also acknowledged veillance programs. He has been
that President-elect Donald living in Russia since 2013.
Trump has signaled a different — Jane Onyanga-Omara
direction. “That’s their preroga-
tive. That’s what happens after
elections,” he said. “We’ll see how EARTHQUAKES ROCK
their approach plays out.” BATTERED CENTRAL ITALY
He urged Trump not to move
the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to
Jerusalem. “When sudden unilat-
eral moves are made that speak to
some of the core issues or sensi-
tivities of either side, that can be
explosive,” he said. “That’s part of
what we’ve tried to indicate to the
incoming team. Pay attention to
this. This is volatile stuff.”
uOn Russia: Obama said he
tried to work with Russia during
his presidency but blamed Rus-
sian President Vladimir Putin for
renewed tensions in the U.S.-Rus-
sian relationship.
uOn Cuba: The effort to nor-
malize relations with Cuba led to
the shift in the “wet foot-dry
foot” policy that favored Cuban
refugees over other immigrants.
Obama said the policy “treated
Cuban immigrants completely
different from folks from El Sal- CLAUDIO LATTANZIO, EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY
vador or Guatemala or Nicaragua Soldiers walk in the village of
or any other part of the world. Campotosto in the Abruzzo
“You know, that was a carry- region of Italy, epicenter of an
over of a old way of thinking earthquake on Wednesday.
that didn’t make sense in this day Four earthquakes shook cen-
and age, particularly as we’re tral Italy over several hours in
opening up travel between the a region still recovering from
two countries.” earlier deadly quakes.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NOMINATION HEARINGS SECRET SERVICE SETTLES RACE

DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT

Nikki Haley says U.S. HHS nominee says The federal government has
agreed to pay $24 million to settle a
long-running discrimination case

can’t trust Russia, Trump doesn’t want brought by a group of African-

American Secret Service agents

must be cautious to ‘pull the rug out’

who alleged that they were system-
atically denied promotion to the
agency’s highest ranks.
The settlement, announced late
Tuesday, effectively ends a 16-year
“Any comments the president- Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., defended legal battle which exposed early
Oren Dorell elect has made are his com- Jayne O’Donnell Price’s purchases. Price said his rifts in an agency that more recent-
@orendorell ments.” @jayneodonnell broker bought shares in one med- ly was plagued with security
USA TODAY Haley disagreed with Trump USA TODAY ical device company without his breaches and agent misconduct.
on several issues during the knowledge. Sen. Christopher “I am pleased that we are able to
hearing. Murphy, D-Conn., raised Price’s finally put this chapter of Secret
WASHINGTON South Carolina She said she was against a blan- WASHINGTON The Trump ad- stock purchases in six companies Service history behind us,’’ Home-
Gov. Nikki Haley vowed Wednes- ket ban on Muslim immigration, ministration would support legis- that would have been hurt by a land Security Secretary Jeh John-
day to be a strong voice against saying, “the president-elect cor- lation to replace the Affordable Centers for Medicare and Medi- son said. — Kevin Johnson
Russia’s aggressive moves if she’s rected his position on that.” Ha- Care Act only if it doesn’t “pull caid Services pilot project, the op-
confirmed as Donald Trump’s ley also said she disagrees with a the rug out on anyone,” Rep. Tom position to which Price led in the WORLD’S APES, MONKEYS
ambassador to the United proposed U.S. Muslim registry, Price, R-Ga., told the Senate com- House. IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION
Nations. calling it unconstitutional. mittee reviewing his nomination Other purchases raised by Sen.
“Russia is trying to show its Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., the to head the Department of Al Franken, D-Minn., were stock About 60% of Earth’s non-hu-
muscle,” Haley told the committee chairman, Health and Human purchases made through man primate species, including
Senate Foreign Relations said after the hearing Services. his mutual funds and apes, monkeys, gorillas, gibbons
Committee during her that Haley showed her Such a commitment is pensions, Price said. and lemurs, are threatened with ex-
confirmation hearing. independence by ex- at odds with Republican Franken was one of tinction and about 75% have de-
“We cannot trust them pressing views that de- plans to replace the ex- three Democrats on the clining populations, according to a
and need to continue to parted from some of isting law with bills that panel holding Wednes- study published Wednesday.
be cautious.” Trump’s public state- would curtail the expan- day’s hearing who sent a “This truly is the 11th hour for
Haley said she was ments. sion of Medicaid, which letter to chairman La- many of these creatures,” said Uni-
against Russia’s annex- “I would rather see a has helped provide mar Alexander, R-Tenn., versity of Illinois anthropology pro-
ation of Crimea and ac- group of people that health insurance to urging him to delay the fessor Paul Garber, who co-led the
tions in Syria but said USA TODAY
have strong views on the more than 20 million USA TODAY
hearing until the ethics study.
the U.S. needs Moscow’s Nikki Haley president’s cabinet, rath- Americans. It also high- Tom Price allegations can be “thor- In the case of the Hainan gibbon,
help to fight ISIL. er than people who are lights the moving scale oughly investigated and a species of ape in China, fewer
Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, in lockstep,” he said. with which Obamacare replace- addressed.” than 30 animals remain on the
the ranking Democrat on the Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., ments are being discussed by Since 2012, Price bought and planet. The population of the
committee, asked if she supports asked Haley if she expects President-elect Donald Trump sold stock in about 40 health Grauer’s gorilla fell from 17,000 in
sanctions on Russia. Trump’s views to shift on foreign and his key nominees, such as care, pharmaceutical, and bio- the mid-90s to about 3,800 today,
“Russia has to make positive policy. “You surround yourself Price. medical companies, the letter mainly from hunting and mining,
actions before we lift any sanc- with people who don’t just say The hearing began with a dis- said. When it comes to the ACA, the study said. And 22 out of the 26
tions,” she replied. ‘yes.’ And what I know about the pute between the chairman and Price seemed to favor continuing primate species in China are en-
On Israel, Haley said it was “a president-elect is he will listen.” ranking Democrat on the Senate the prohibitions on lifetime lim- dangered, Garber said.
terrible mistake” last month Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., asked Health, Education, Labor and its on insurance coverage and dis- Those and many other species
when the U.S. abstained on a U.N. about the Iran nuclear deal and Pensions panel about the time crimination on the basis of will disappear in the next 25 years
Security Council resolution con- whether Haley agrees with lawmakers would have for ques- preexisting conditions. unless conservation becomes a
demning Israeli settlements. Trump in wanting to back out of tions. Price, an orthopedic surgeon, global priority, Garber said.
However, Haley said she supports the deal negotiated by the Obama It continued with Democrats has received strong backing — Doyle Rice
a two-state solution and calls for administration with Iran and five focusing on Price’s investments in from medical groups. Of the
Israel not to expand settlements other world powers. health firms that benefited from $15 million that Price has re- DEATH TOLL IN MALI
in the West Bank on land Pales- Haley said no. It is “more bills he introduced or pushed. ceived in campaign contributions SUICIDE EXPLOSION TOPS 60
tinians seek for a future state. beneficial at this point is to look While Price’s opposition to the during his career, Price has
“I do understand how they at all the aspects of the Iran Affordable Care Act is neither received more than $50,000 A suicide bomber in an explo-
(Palestinians) think they will hin- deal, are they in compliance?” she surprising nor likely to derail his each from the American Medical sives-laden vehicle penetrated a
der peace,” she said. But “we need said. support in Congress, the invest- Association, American Associa- camp in northern Mali on Wednes-
to let the two parties decide those The USA contributes 22% of ments make the likelihood of tion of Orthopedic Surgeons, day, killing at least 60 people and
issues among themselves.” the U.N.’s general budget, and Ha- confirmation murkier. The Wall American College of Cardiology wounding 115 soldiers and former
Haley vowed her support for ley questioned whether such a Street Journal reported last and other health care groups, ac- fighters who are trying to stabilize
Trump’s pledge to move the U.S. large investment is worthwhile. month that Price traded about cording to the non-profit Public the region. The attack marked a
Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv “We are a generous nation,” $300,000 in shares in the past Citizen. significant setback for peace efforts.
to Jerusalem, a controversial po- she said. “But we must ask our- four years in health companies Public Citizen joined Planned Suspicion fell on the Islamic ex-
sition against U.S. policy. selves what good is being accom- while pursuing bills that could fa- Parenthood and other groups in tremists that oppose the 2015
When asked about comments plished by this disproportionate vorably affect them. petitions opposing the nomina- peace agreement that brought the
made by Trump that NATO had contribution. Are we getting what Price and his friend, Senate tion delivered to Sen. Patty Mur- parties together.
become obsolete, Haley said, we pay for?” Ethics Committee Chairman ray, D-Wash. — The Associated Press