Barack Obama actually said...

"He received an update on our progress in disrupting, dismantling, and defeating al Qaeda in the region."

"These outstanding honorees come from a broad range of backgrounds and they've excelled in a broad range of fields, but all of them have lived extraordinary lives that have inspired us, enriched our cu..."

"These are important, substantive changes that are directly responsive to the recommendations of church-state experts across the ideological spectrum."

"Decisions about awards of Federal financial assistance must be free from political interference or even the appearance of such interference and must be made on the basis of merit."