Obama urges Americans to make 'leap second' count

At 8 p.m. New York time tonight, the world gets an extra second as clocks will momentarily freeze to realign the Earth’s slowing rotation with atomic clocks.

President Obama is urging Americans to "make that extra second count."

"This is a unique opportunity for America to use the leap second to make the world a better place," the president said.

"Use that time to call a gay friend and urge him to marry. Teach an undocumented immigrant how to read a book or a voting machine. Flick the switch to turn off coal-burning generators and other devices. Take down that Confederate flag--it only takes a second."

The president will take his "Make Leap Second Count" campaign to Seattle and Portland today.