Obama faces anti-abortion protests

By Sima Kotecha
Newsbeat US reporter in Washington DC

Barack Obama was greeted by anti-abortion protesters as he attended a graduation ceremony in Indiana, while his wife Michelle jetted to California to try to inspire graduates from underprivileged backgrounds.

Obama heckled at Notre Dame university

It was almost impossible to get a cab in Washington DC over the weekend as thousands of university students graduated.

Their families flew in from around the country and the world to watch them collect their degrees. Hotels were booked and restaurants were packed. If you hadn't made a reservation, chances were you wouldn't get fed or you'd have to wait for ages.

Barack Obama also got to wear a graduation robe over the weekend. He was at Notre Dame University in Indiana - the largest Catholic university in the US. He was awarded an honorary degree there.

The president's trip was filled with protests because of his stance on abortion. He's always said a woman has the right to choose but a large proportion of Catholics in America want abortion to be made illegal.

Apparently four men heckled him as he began speaking on stage. They shouted "abortion is murder" and "stop killing babies" before being taken out of the auditorium.

Obama tries to be young but his politics don't work for everyone Hotel worker Barry Dixon

President Obama used the controversy surrounding his visit as an opportunity to address the issue of abortion.

He said: "Let's work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term."

But his speech sparked criticism. Barry Dixon works at a hotel in DC.

Education role

He told Newsbeat: "Obama tries to be young but his politics don't work for everyone. He's not right and shouldn't be telling graduates he is. They shouldn't give him a degree."

The president and his wife feel strongly about education. Obama has said a child's life should involve a good school, and that money shouldn't play a role in getting a proper education.

Michelle Obama urged graduates to help disadvantaged people

The couple spent weeks finding their daughters Sasha and Malia a well reputed school in DC before they moved to the capital from Chicago.

But not everyone's convinced the presidential couple should be a central part of a weekend that's supposed to be about celebrations and not politics.

Barry said: "It's not exactly the right time to bring up abortion. They've just graduated. Stay out, they should stay out of it."

The president and his wife Michelle - both Harvard graduates - claim to understand the anxiety and fear many youngsters feel as they enter the world of employment.

With America going through the toughest economic time since the great depression, they wanted to reach out and encourage those who might be worried.

First lady's speech

Michelle made it to the west coast and spoke to thousands at the University of California, Merced.

Merced is one of the most economically depressed cities in the state, and it's claimed more than half the students there come from underprivileged backgrounds.

It was Michelle's first graduation speech as first lady. In the college's traditional robe, and her hair perfectly straight, she told the crowd she was proud of them.

Graduate Piya Radia says Michelle Obama is a modern role model

She urged them to be bold and embrace the difficult challenges which lie ahead. She also called on them to help disadvantaged people.

She said: "You, the students, the graduates and faculty on this campus, you're capable of changing the world, that's for sure.

"We need your ideas, graduates. We need your resourcefulness. We need your inventiveness."

Students there bombarded Michelle with letters and videos to get her to come to the graduation. She said she was so impressed and inspired by what she read, that she had no choice but to attend the ceremony.

Piya Radia, who's 22, graduated on Saturday at Georgetown University in DC. She's a massive fan of Michelle Obama's.

"I think she's just a new modern type of role model for women. She's incredibly intelligent, well spoken, and she's just interesting," she said.

"It's very good to see the White House pushing people to help others. That's what my university's always done too."