Remarks by the President at a DCCC/DSCC Event -- New York, NY

The Waldorf Astoria Hotel

New York, New York

8:29 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  (Applause.)  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Thank you.  Please, everybody have a seat.

Well, first of all, thank you so much, Steve Israel, not only for the wonderful introduction, but I love the story of your grandparents.  And so often we spend time thinking about how we got into this strange business -- (laughter) -- but so often it traces back to the values that were passed on generation through generation.  And to hear that story I think affirms not only why you’re such an outstanding Congressman but also the kind of man you are.  And so we’re thrilled to have you here, and just the great job you’re doing on behalf of the DCCC.  So give Steve a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

I want to say thank you to somebody who has been a great friend -- if you are in a foxhole, this is the person you want with you -- the soon-to-be-again Speaker of the House, Leader Nancy Pelosi.  We love Nancy.  (Applause.)

And one of my favorite senators -- just a guy who everybody who meets him says, that guy, he’s just solid, sincere, hardworking, a wonderful family and has really helped to transform politics in Colorado -- Michael Bennet.  Give Michael a big round of applause.  (Applause.) 

And of course, I want to acknowledge all the outstanding members of the New York delegation who are here.  But I’ve got to give a special shout-out to somebody who is helping to engineer some of the most important legislative agenda items that we’ve got in my second term; could not be prouder of him -- Chuck Schumer.  Give Chuck a big round of applause.  (Applause.) 

So over the last month, we’ve gone through some tough times in this country.  Obviously, we saw the horrific bombing of the Boston Marathon.  I had traveled down to a tiny town in West, Texas to deal with the aftermath of a terrible explosion there that had such a devastating impact on the city.  It’s hard to find two communities more different than Boston, Massachusetts and West, Texas, I assure you.  (Laughter.)  And yet, what was striking about that very difficult, challenging week was the consistency of spirit from Boston all the way to West, Texas. 

And I remember being in a car with Deval Patrick, the outstanding mayor of -- Governor of Massachusetts, and we were driving to a memorial service and we were talking about the emergency response and how first responders who were actually running in the race all ran to the site of the explosion, and how the hospitals and doctors responded magnificently to sort through who would go where to maximize their ability to care for the victims, and the people who were driving runners to their homes -- complete strangers -- because of everything that had happened.  And what Deval and I agreed on was that in times of tragedy, in the midst of just terrible pain, there’s something about the American spirit that just rises up. 

And it’s not just resilience.  There is a generosity and a sense of neighborliness and an insistence on doing the right thing and thinking about others.  And Deval and I talked about how this is a constant in America, and it’s not just during tragedies, not just during crises.  You can see it out on a Little League field where parents are out there volunteering.  You see it in churches and synagogues and mosques and temples all across the country.  You see it in neighbors helping neighbors, and you see it in workplaces where workers are taking pride of great American products and services that they’re creating, helping to build a nation. 

But the one thing Deval and I agreed on was that we’re not seeing enough of it in our politics, and we’re certainly not seeing enough of it in Washington.  And one of the things that a second term affords you is a little bit of perspective, because I don’t have to run again, as Michelle happily reminds me.  (Laughter.)  And I’ve been through some tough battles over the last four years, and then my time in the Senate before that.  And you’re able to project out a little bit into the future. 

And precisely because of that spirit that was evident in West, Texas and in Boston, I’ve probably never been more optimistic about America.  Having gone through these extraordinary hardships -- worst financial crisis since the Great Depression; the financial system on the verge of meltdown; dealing with two wars and all the losses associated with that and the enormous strains on our budget -- we are now in the process of having cleared out the rubble.   

And although we are nowhere near where we need to be, given everything that we’ve gone through, we have seen job growth for almost three consecutive years now.  We have seen the economy growing.  We have seen people’s 401(k)s and investments on Wall Street restored.  We’ve seen health care costs grow at a slower pace over the last three years than any time in the last 50 years.  We are in the process of implementing and making sure that millions of people all across the country finally get affordable health care that they’ve never had.  (Applause.)

We have doubled the production of clean, renewable energy and our traditional natural gas and oil deposits have been tapped with new technology in ways that will probably lead us to be a net exporter of natural gas within the next five to ten years.  (Applause.) 

And housing, which was probably the biggest drag on our economy, is steadily beginning to recover.  And so across the board, there are all these signs of progress.  And that’s the American spirit at work.  That’s the American people -- through grit and determination and a vision of possibility, just brick by brick, neighborhood by neighborhood, city by city, state by state rebuilding.

And when I travel internationally -- I took a trip down to Mexico -- and met with not only the new Mexican President but also leaders of Central American countries.  What was striking is that in a part of the world where in the past there had been times where there had been suspicions directed at the United States and what our motives were, there’s an enormous hunger to engage in trade and commerce and cooperation to deal with these transnational drug networks, and a genuine sense of not just the desire, but the need for American leadership -- not a leadership that dictates, not a leadership that seeks simply to impose our will on others, but a leadership in which we are convening and collaborating and partnering, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. 

And so the bottom line is, when I canvas the world, there is no nation that we would want to trade hands with.  And there’s no nation that secretly -- they couldn't admit it -- wouldn’t mind having the hand that we’re holding.  And the only thing that’s holding us back -- the only thing that’s holding us back -- is a spirit in Washington that isn't reflective of the spirit of the American people; a spirit in Washington that’s more interested in game-playing than getting things done -- (applause) -- a spirit in Washington that is more concerned about the next election than the next generation.  And that has to change.  And that’s why you’re here tonight -- because you know it has to change.

We’ve got more work to do.  And I spelled out in my inauguration, I spelled out in my State of the Union exactly what we need to do.  We need to continue to build on the tremendous progress we’ve made in reforming our education system and make sure that every child in America is prepared before they start school with universal pre-K for every kid, which can make an enormous difference in achievement levels all across the country.  (Applause.)  Modernize our high schools so they’re adapted to the 21st century.  Make sure that our community colleges are linking up with businesses to prepare our young people for the jobs of tomorrow.  Make college more affordable.  We know that we need to do that.  There’s no credible argument for not doing it.   

We know we’ve got to rebuild our infrastructure.  We’ve got $2 trillion of deferred maintenance.  There was a list a few months back of the top airports in the world -- not one out of the top 25 were in the United States of America.  Not one.  Imagine that.  Roads, bridges, airports, ports, broadband lines, smart grids.  

We know what we’ve got to do.  And, by the way, if we are rebuilding our infrastructure, we’re putting people back to work right now.  So it’s strengthening our economy now and for the future.  We know what we need to do.

We know that we have to control our energy future.  And as promising as these new technologies are to tap into new sources of energy, we also know that climate change is real.  And if we want to leave a world for our children and our grandchildren that is as beautiful as the one that we inherited, then we’re going to have to double down on our investments in basic research and science around clean energy, and discover not just the energy sources of the past, but also the energy sources of the future.  We’ve got to win that race.  We know that.  We know that.

We know we’ve got to get immigration reform done, because we want America to attract the best and the brightest.   (Applause.)   We want the message of the Statue of Liberty to be resonating around the world, that flame to continue to shine as a beacon not just for freedom but also for people who are ambitious and have drive, and who are unconstrained by the past, because they believe in the future.  We know we’ve got to do that. 

And we know that we’ve got to have a sensible budget, a budget that invests in education and invests in research, and is true to our commitment to keeping our seniors out of poverty, and is true to our investment in the infrastructure that’s going to continue to make this a growing, dynamic economy.  And we can do all that.  We don’t have to do anything radical.  We know what the basic plan is. 

And with just some modest steps, with the deficit already coming down quicker than at any time since World War II, at a faster pace, we know that if we just make a few smart decisions both on the revenue side and on the spending side -- not through automatic, mindless spending cuts that are slashing our commitments to research and our investments in our kids, but through smart, targeted spending cuts and revenue -- that we can stabilize our budget for decades to come, just open field running from there on out.   America cannot be stopped if we make some smart decisions.  

Internationally, as I said, people are looking for our leadership.  But what they’re not looking for is us simply seeing every problem as a military problem.  They’re looking for us to be proponents of peace and work on its behalf. (Applause.)  

They are looking for us to show leadership in helping make sure that children around the world aren’t dying of malnutrition and that they get a decent education, and that people in extreme poverty making less than two dollars a day, that they’re put in a position in which they can succeed -- because they understand that if they succeed, then America will succeed as well.   And they don’t understand exactly sometimes what’s holding us back. 

So the promise of America is alive and well, and I could not be more optimistic.   But that spirit that we saw in Boston, that spirit that we saw in West, Texas, we’re going to have to unleash that.  And the only way we unleash that is to make sure that Washington, our elected leadership -- that they start reflecting that spirit as well.  And I can tell you that the Democratic leaders in that room -- in this room, they reflect that spirit because I see them every single day.  I know their values and I know what they care about, and I know what they're working for. 

And truth be told, there are folks on the other side of the aisle who have that spirit as well.  It’s not a Democratic or a Republican spirit.  It’s not a partisan spirit.  It’s an American spirit. 

But what is also true is that the dynamic on the other side of the aisle right now runs contrary to what we need in order to succeed, that they’ve got a different point of view right now, reinforced by some folks around the country that don't share our vision for America as a place where everybody gets a fair shot and everybody is doing their fair share. 

Now, I’m going to do everything I can over the next three and a half years to continue to reach out to my Republican friends on the other side of the aisle because I sure want to do some governing.  I want to get some stuff done.  I don't have a lot of time.  I’ve got three and a half years left, and it goes by like that.  And if any of you doubt that three and a half years goes by quick, try having some teenage or close-to-teenage girls.  (Laughter.)  Because you look up and you don't know what happened.  (Laughter.)  

So I want to get moving.  And any time that the other side is ready and willing and prepared to work on the things that Chuck Schumer has been working on, like immigration and making sure that we’re reducing gun violence in this country; any time that somebody is willing to work on the kinds of things that Michael Bennet has been working on, like improving our education system and making sure that we’ve got world-class research; any time that somebody is willing to cooperate with Nancy Pelosi to make sure that our budget reflects our commitment to not just the folks at the very top, but a broad-based prosperity for all Americans, and that we’re making sure that we’re rebuilding our manufacturing base in this country -- any time those folks want to get to work, we are ready to work. 

But what I also say is that during those two years that Nancy Pelosi was Speaker, man, we got a lot of stuff done.  (Applause.)  And what I also know is that unless we had a Democratic Senate, we would not have ended “don't ask, don't tell.”  Unless we had had a Democratic Senate, we would not have been able to make sure that everybody in this country is able to access affordable health care.  What I know is, is that if we hadn’t had a Democratic House and a Democratic Senate, college would be a lot less affordable for our young people.   

We know that.  So I want to be clear.  I am President of all Americans, not just the leader of a party.  And my top priority is to make sure that when I leave this office I can honestly say that America is in a stronger position and a more secure position and a more promising position than it was before I took office.

But what I also know is that with leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Steve Israel and Michael Bennet and Chuck Schumer and all the New York delegation here, with them as partners, this country will take off like we haven’t seen in a very long time.  That's what you’re investing in.  You're investing in people who share your values and your vision for the future. 

And that's why even though I’ve run my last race, I’m going to be working as hard as I can to make sure that their vision is one that is dominant on Capitol Hill.  It’s that spirit that we saw in West, Texas.  It’s the spirit we saw in Boston.  It’s the spirit that we see here in New York City.  And as I was driving up and saw the new Freedom Tower rising, it reminded me of just what it is that we’re fighting for.  (Applause.)  

So thank you very much, everybody.  God bless you.  God bless America.

END 
8:50 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the President at a DNC Event -- New York, NY

Private Residence
New York, New York

4:24 P.M. EDT
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  Well, first of all, I have to thank Harvey and Georgina for once again extending incredible hospitality to us.  We are so grateful for their friendship and support, and for the amazing movies that they've made.  And it is wonderful to see all of you.  I see old friends, new friends and people who when I have time to watch movies or TV, I very much appreciate.  So thank you for the great work that you guys do.
 
I'm going to spend most of this time in a conversation with everybody, so I'm not going to give a long speech at the front end.  Over the last three weeks, month, the country has gone through some tough times.  Obviously, we had the Boston bombing and the incredible tragedy that marred what is one of the greatest sporting events in the world, and an iconic event here in America.  We went out to West, Texas to a tiny town that had been devastated by an explosion there. 
 
And I remember, I was with Deval Patrick, a wonderful governor -- the Governor of Massachusetts -- as we were driving to a memorial in Boston shortly after the attack.  And we talked about that in the midst of tragedy, the incredible strength and courage and resolve of the American people just comes out, and the neighborliness, and the sense of willing to support strangers and neighbors and friends during tough times.  And that same spirit, which I would later see when I visited West, Texas -- you can't get two places more different than Boston and West, Texas.  So it's a pretty good representative sampling of America. 
 
And part of what Deval and I talked about was what do we need to do to make sure that that same spirit is reflected in our politics and our government -- because it's there every day for people to see.  It doesn't matter whether people are Democrats or Republicans or independents.  If you go into schools, you go to Little League games, you talk to people at the workplace -- everybody has the same sense that we live in the greatest country on Earth, that we've gone through some tough times, but we're resilient and we can overcome whatever challenges are thrown at us.  And there's a desire to get outside of the constant squabbling and bickering and positioning and gamesmanship, and get to the business of figuring out how do we make sure that the next generation does better than this generation.
 
And as I think about my second term, and people have asked me, what's different about your second term -- well, other than me being grayer -- (laughter) -- and my girls being taller, the main thing about a second term is, A, I don’t have to run for office again; but, B, you also start just thinking about history, and you start thinking about -- in longer sweeps of time, and you start saying to yourself that the three and a half years that I've got is not a lot, and so I've got to make sure that I use everything I've got to make as much of a difference as I can.
 
And more than anything, what I will be striving for over the next three and a half years is to see if that spirit that I saw in Boston and West, Texas, if we can institutionalize that, if we can create a framework where everybody is working together and moving this country forward. 
 
Now, the good news is that if we do that, we've got the best cards of any country on Earth -- and that’s the truth.  Look, there's no American politician, much less American President, who's not going to say that we're not the greatest country on Earth.  So that’s a cliché.  On the other hand, objectively, when you look at where we are right now, we are poised for a 21st century that is as much the American century as the 20th century was.
 
We have recovered from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and yet, the economy is growing; millions of jobs have been created; the stock market has hit record highs; the housing market has begun to recover.  When you look at our companies, innovation, dynamism, inventiveness still take root here in the United States more than anyplace else on Earth. 
 
When it comes to energy, not only have we been able to double our production of clean energy, but even in terms of traditional energy, we will probably be a net exporter of natural gas in somewhere between five and ten years.  And so the idea of the United States being energy independent -- which seemed far-fetched as recently as 10 years ago -- now is actually a possibility.
 
When you travel around the world, people still look to the United States for leadership.  I went down to Mexico and then Costa Rica and I met with Central American leaders down there, and each and every one of them, including Daniel Ortega, who was at one of the meetings -- and some of you are too young to remember I guess Daniel Ortega, and I’m not -- (laughter) -- all of them talked about how can we trade, how can we work more effectively together.  And so the possibilities for us to shape a world that is more peaceful, more prosperous, more innovative, more environmentally conscious, more tolerant, more open -- that opportunity exists, but there are just a few things that we’re going to have to do to make sure that we realize those opportunities, that potential.
 
We’ve got to continue to revamp our education system so it’s meeting the demands of the 21st century.  We’ve got to rebuild our infrastructure so we don’t have the worst airports in the world.  We’ve got to make sure -- and ports and roads and bridges and broadband lines.  We’ve got to make sure that we continue to focus on putting people back to work, because jobs are not just a matter of income, they’re a matter of dignity and stitching the fabric of a community together. 
 
We’ve got to deal with climate change in an honest, realistic way.  We’re not going to reverse the trends overnight, but we have to start now for the sake of our kids and, in fact, the tools are available to us to make huge strides in the coming years if we make the smart investments.  We’ve got to keep on investing in research and development.  And we’ve got to get our fiscal house in order in a way that is sensible so that everybody is paying their fair share; everybody understands that we have to -- if we want a first-class education system, for example, then we’ve got to pay for it.  If we want first-class infrastructure, we’ve got to pay for it.  But we also want a government that is lean and effective and efficient, and not bloated.
 
And these are all things that we can accomplish.  What’s blocking us right now is sort of hyper-partisanship in Washington that, frankly, I was hoping to overcome in 2008.  And in the midst of crisis, I think the other party reacted; rather than saying now is the time for us all to join together, decided to take a different path. 
 
My thinking was after we beat them in 2012, well, that might break the fever -- (laughter) -- and it’s not quite broken yet.  (Laughter.)  But I am persistent.  And I am staying at it.  And I genuinely believe that there are actually Republicans out there who would like to work with us but they’re fearful of their base and they’re concerned about what Rush Limbaugh might say about them, and as a consequence, we get the kind of gridlock that makes people cynical about government and inhibits our progress.
 
So the bottom line is this -- everybody is here to support the DNC, and I very much appreciate that.  But I want everybody to understand that my intentions over the next three and a half years are to govern, because I don’t have another race left.  If we’ve got folks on the other side who are prepared to cooperate, that is great and we are ready to go.  On the other hand, if there are folks who are more interested in winning elections than they are thinking about the next generation, then I want to make sure that there are consequences to that. 
 
And what you all are here today to facilitate is our ability to make sure that the values and concerns that we all have for Dash and all the other babies that are out there -- Steve has got a new one, and I’m starting to feel like the old man around here because mine are this tall and everybody else has these little babies.  But I want to make sure that that generation is getting everything and more that we can give them.  And that’s going to require us to work hard.  It’s going to require persistence.  There are going to be ups and downs in this whole process. 
 
But one of the benefits of a second term is you start taking the long view.  And what I know is, is that as long as we are pointing towards that true North, that eventually we’ll get there.  That’s what this country has always done.  That’s what I expect will happen this time as well.
 
So with that, I’m going to stop and I’m just going to open it up for questions.  (Applause.)
 
END
4:35 P.M. EDT

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Ryan Clark Crocker, of Washington, to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2013, vice Victor H. Ashe, term expired.

Ryan Clark Crocker, of Washington, to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2016.  (Reappointment)