Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President urged Americans to contribute to the recovery efforts in the Northeast, met with governors, mayors, and other local officials, as well as his Homeland Security team to talk about the response to Sandy, and addressed the nation on election night.
November 08, 2012 | 3:04 | Public Domain
This week, the President urged Americans to contribute to the recovery efforts in the Northeast, met with governors, mayors, and other local officials, as well as his Homeland Security team to talk about the response to Sandy, and addressed the nation on election night.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
Since Tuesday evening, the President has been receiving messages from his counterparts around the world congratulating him on winning re-election to a second term in office. The President appreciates all of these messages and looks forward to continuing to work with all of his fellow leaders to address the serious challenges we face together in the world.
This morning the President was able to return some of these messages personally, by phone. In each call, he thanked his counterpart for their friendship and partnership thus far and expressed his desire to continue close cooperation moving ahead.
The President spoke with:
Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia
President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil
Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada
President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia
President Mohammed Morsi of Egypt
President Francois Hollande of France
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
King Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz of Saudi Arabia
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey
Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
This morning, the President received an update from the National Weather Service on the high winds, rain, snow and cold temperatures associated with the coastal low that’s bearing down on the Northeast. The President also convened a conference call with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security John Brennan and Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco. The President heard from his team about the federal resources, personnel and expertise being used to support state and local recovery efforts in the wake of Sandy, including efforts to take additional steps to support preparedness efforts ahead of the severe weather. At the requests of New York and New Jersey, FEMA continues to deliver commodities including food, water, blankets, generators and others resources to distribution points across the region impacted by Sandy, and FEMA continues to pre-position additional resources and supplies to ensure they are in place if needed by our state and local partners to respond to the coastal low. The President was also updated on efforts to coordinate with state and local officials on emergency housing needs and long term housing problems caused by the storm. He was also briefed on the ongoing efforts to improve access to gasoline and restore electricity in communities impacted by Sandy. Given the bad weather conditions caused by the coastal low, the President closed the call by expressing his concern for the safety of people who live in communities damaged by Sandy as well as the first responders, relief workers and utility crews who are working round-the-clock to help those communities recover.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
Community College of Aurora at Lowry
Aurora, Colorado
November 4, 2012
10:54 P.M. MST
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Colorado! (Applause.) Are you fired up?
AUDIENCE: Yeah!
THE PRESIDENT: Are you ready to go?
AUDIENCE: Yeah!
THE PRESIDENT: Are you really fired up?
AUDIENCE: Yeah!
THE PRESIDENT: Are you ready to go vote?
AUDIENCE: Yeah!
THE PRESIDENT: I know a bunch of you already voted. But if you haven’t, there's still time.
Can everybody please give Mike a big round of applause for the great introduction and his service to our country? (Applause.) Give it up to your outstanding United States senators, Michael Bennet and Mark Udall. (Applause.) And one of the best governors in the country -- John Hickenlooper. (Applause.) We've got your former mayor and a great friend, a member of my national team -- Federico Peña. (Applause.)
And we've got one of the finest congressional delegations anyplace in the country right here in Colorado. We're so proud of all of them. Please give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)
Now, for the past several days, all of us have been focused on not just elections, but we've been focused on what's been happening on the East Coast, one of the worst storms of our lifetime. And as a nation, we mourn those who were lost. And unfortunately, the people of this town understand what it means to grieve better than most, because the wounds of that terrible shooting are still fresh in people's minds.
But just as you've begun to heal as a community, we're going to help our friends on the East Coast heal as well. We're going to walk with the people whose lives have been upended, those who've lost loved ones -- we're going to walk with them every step of the way in the hard road ahead, because that's what we do as Americans. (Applause.) We help our neighbors and friends rebuild. We will carry on with a spirit that says no matter how bad a storm is, we come back. No matter how tough times are, we will thrive, because we're all in this together, and we rise or fall as one nation and as one people. (Applause.)
Colorado, that spirit has guided us along this improbable journey for more than two centuries. It’s carried us through the trials of the last four years.
In 2008, we were in the middle of two wars and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. And today, our businesses have created nearly 5.5 million new jobs. (Applause.) The American auto industry is back on top. Home values are on the rise. We’re less dependent on foreign oil than at any time in the last 20 years. We've doubled our clean energy production. Because of the service and sacrifice of our brave men and women in uniform, the war in Iraq is over. The war in Afghanistan is ending. Al Qaeda is on the run. Osama bin Laden is dead. (Applause.) We’ve made progress these last four years.
We've made progress these last four years. But, Colorado, the reason you're all here -- aside from wanting to hear Dave Matthews -- (applause) -- is that we’ve got more work to do. As long as there’s a single American who wants a job but can’t find one, our work is not yet done. As long as there's a family working harder and harder and still falling behind, our work isn’t done yet. As long as there’s a child anywhere in Colorado, anywhere in the United States, who’s languishing in poverty, barred from opportunity, our work isn’t done. Our fight goes on.
Our fight goes on because this nation cannot succeed without a growing and thriving middle class, and strong and sturdy ladders for folks who are willing to work to get into the middle class. (Applause.) Our fight goes on because America always does best when everybody gets a fair shot, and everybody is doing their fair share, and everybody plays by the same rules. (Applause.) That’s what we believe. That’s why you elected me. That’s why I’m running for a second term as President of the United States. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: Now, Colorado, in two days, everybody in the country has got a choice to make. You've already made a choice, many of you, but there’s still a lot of folks who have yet to cast their ballots. And they’ve got a choice between two candidates and two parties, but more importantly, between two visions of our country. It’s a choice between returning to the top-down policies that crashed our economy -- or a vision of our economy that grows from the middle class out, from the bottom up. (Applause.)
And as Americans, we honor free enterprise, the free market, the strivers, the dreamers, the business folks, the risk-takers who have always been the driving force behind our economic growth -- the greatest engine of growth and prosperity the world has ever known. But what we also believe is our markets, our free enterprise system, it works best when everybody is participating, when everybody has a chance to succeed, when everybody has a decent education and everybody is learning new skills, and when we’re investing in research and medical breakthroughs and new technologies.
We think we’re stronger when everybody has affordable health care -- (applause) -- when everybody has Medicare and Social Security that they can count on in their golden years. We think our markets work better when there are rules in place to protect our kids from toxic dumping or mercury pollution; rules to protect consumers from being taken advantage of by an unscrupulous credit card company or mortgage lender.
And then there are some things we actually think government shouldn’t be involved with. For example, we don’t think politicians in Washington should be controlling health care choices women are perfectly capable of making themselves. (Applause.)
Now, Colorado, for eight years, we had a President who shared these beliefs -- his name was Bill Clinton. (Applause.) And his economic plan asked the wealthiest Americans to pay a little bit more so we could reduce our deficit and invest in the skills and ideas of our people.
And at the time, you may be surprised to learn that the Republican Congress -- and a Senate candidate by the name of Mitt Romney -- said Bill Clinton’s plan would kill jobs, kill the economy. Turns out their math back then was just as bad as it is now. (Laughter.) Because by the end of President Clinton’s second term, America had created 23 million new jobs. (Applause.) Incomes were up; poverty was down. Our deficit had become a surplus.
So, Colorado, we know our ideas work because they’ve been tested, they’ve been tried. And we also know that the other folks’ ideas don’t work because they’ve been tested. (Laughter.) Now, after Bill Clinton left office, for most of the last decade, we tried giving big tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans that we couldn’t afford. We tried giving insurance companies and oil companies and Wall Street the license to do whatever they pleased. And what we got was falling incomes, and record deficits, and the slowest job growth in half a century, and an economic crisis that we’ve been cleaning up after ever since.
So we’ve got ideas that work; we’ve got ideas that don’t. (Laughter.) We’ve tried both. We should be able to make a pretty clear choice. But you’ve got to give him credit -- Governor Romney is a pretty talented salesman. (Laughter.) And in this campaign, he has tried as hard as he can to repackage the same old bad ideas that didn’t work and offer them up as new ideas. He says they’re change.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Not change! (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: He says they’re change.
Now, here’s the thing. We know what change looks like, and what he’s selling ain’t it. (Applause.) Giving more power to the biggest banks is not change. Giving another $5 trillion tax cut that favors the wealthy -- not change.
AUDIENCE: Not change! (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: Refusing to answer questions about the details of your policies until after the election is over -- that’s definitely not change.
AUDIENCE: Not change!
THE PRESIDENT: Ruling out compromise by pledging to rubber-stamp the tea party’s agenda in Congress -- not change.
AUDIENCE: Not change!
THE PRESIDENT: Changing the facts when they’re inconvenient to your own campaign -- well, we’ve seen that before. That’s not change.
AUDIENCE: Not change!
THE PRESIDENT: You guys get the idea. (Laughter.) Not change.
Look, here is the thing. Part of a presidential race is about policy and part of it is about trust. You’ve got to have a sense of whether or not the person means what they say, and say what they mean. (Applause.) And the thing is, Colorado, after four years, you know me. (Applause.) You may not agree with every decision I’ve made, but Michelle doesn’t either. (Laughter.)
You may be frustrated sometimes by the pace of change -- guess what? So am I. But you know what I believe. You know where I stand. You know I tell the truth. (Applause.) And you know that I will fight for you and your families every single day as hard as I know how. (Applause.)
So, Colorado, I know what real change looks like because I’ve fought for it, because I’ve delivered it, because you’ve worked with me and lifted me up to be able to get some stuff done that is important to folks all across this country. You know what real change looks like. I’ve got the scars to prove it. I’ve got the gray hair -- (laughter) -- to show you.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love that hair! (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate that. (Laughter.)
So after all we’ve been through together, we can’t give up now.
AUDIENCE: No!
THE PRESIDENT: Let me paint for you the change we still need.
AUDIENCE: Not change!
THE PRESIDENT: No, no, this is the change we want. (Laughter.) You missed your cue on this one.
Change -- real change -- is a country where every American has got a shot at a great education. (Applause.) And that means parents, you have to parent; and students, you’ve got to study. But don't tell me that hiring more great teachers won’t help grow this economy. (Applause.) Of course it will. Don't tell me that students who can’t afford college should just borrow money from their parents.
AUDIENCE: No!
THE PRESIDENT: That wasn’t an option for me; I'll be it’s not an option for a lot of you. And that’s why I want to cut the growth of tuition in half over the next 10 years. (Applause.) I want to recruit 100,000 math and science teachers so our kids don't fall behind. I want to train 2 million Americans in our community colleges with the skills that businesses are looking for right now.
That’s how we’re going to grow. That’s how we create jobs. That’s what change is. That’s what’s at stake in this election. (Applause.) That’s what we’re fighting for in this election.
Change comes when we live up to this country’s legacy of innovation. I’m very proud that I bet on American workers and the American auto industry, but I’m not just proud because we’re building cars, I’m proud because we’re building better cars -- cars that by the middle of the next decade will go twice as far on a gallon of gas. (Applause.) That helps our economy. That helps your pocketbook. It helps our national security. It helps our environment.
But we don't want to just stop innovating there. There are thousands of workers today building long-lasting batteries and wind turbines and solar panels all across the country. And I want to make sure, instead of giving subsidies to oil company profits, I want to support the energy jobs of tomorrow, the new technologies that will cut our oil imports in half. (Applause.)
I want to stop giving tax breaks to companies that reward -- tax breaks that reward companies that are shipping jobs overseas. Reward companies that are investing here in America, in the next generation of manufacturing. (Applause.)
That’s how we grow an economy. That’s how we create jobs. That’s what I see for Colorado. That’s what I see for our future.
Change -- real change -- is turning the page on a decade of war so we can do some nation-building here at home. (Applause.) As long as I am Commander-in-Chief, we will pursue our enemies with the strongest military the world has ever known.
But it’s time to use the savings from ending two wars to pay down our debt rebuilding America, repairing roads and bridges, making sure our schools are state of the art, putting people back to work right now -- especially our veterans, because anybody who has fought for our freedom should not have to fight for a job or a roof over their heads, or the care that they need, or the benefits they’ve earned when they come home. (Applause.)
That’s how we keep ourselves strong -- by keeping our commitments to those who sacrifice so much. And that’s also what’s at stake in this election.
And change is a future where we reduce our deficits in a balanced, responsible way. I’ve signed a trillion dollars’ worth of spending cuts; I intend to do more. But if we’re serious about reducing our deficit, we can’t just cut our way to prosperity. There are some things we need to do to make sure we grow and put people back to work, and that means we’ve got to ask the wealthiest Americans to go back to the tax rates they paid when Bill Clinton was in office. (Applause.)
Now, the reason is because budgets are priorities -- they reflect our values. I’m not going to kick a kid off of Head Start so I can get a tax break. I don't need it. (Applause.)
As long as I’m President, I will not turn Medicare into a voucher just to pay for another millionaire’s tax cut. (Applause.) That’s not true to who we are, and that’s not how we grow an economy.
So, Colorado, we know what real change is. We know what the future requires. And, by the way, we also know it won’t be easy.
Now, back in 2008, we talked about change. And I wasn’t just talking about changing Presidents, I wasn’t just talking about changing parties. I was talking about change in how we run our politics. I ran because the voices of the American people, your voices, had been shut out of our democracy for way too long by the lobbyists and the special interests; the politicians who will say anything and do anything just to keep things the way they are; the protectors of the status quo.
The status quo in Washington is fierce, and it has fought us every step of the way. They spent millions of dollars to try to stop us from reforming health care, millions of dollars trying to stop us from reforming Wall Street. They engineered a strategy of gridlock in Congress, refusing to compromise even on ideas that, in the past, both Democrats and Republicans agreed on. That’s why we’ve got Republicans opposed to a health care plan that started as a Republican idea, implemented by a Republican governor.
And what they’re counting on now is that you’re going to be so worn down by all the squabbling, so tired of all the dysfunction, just fed up -- that you give up, and you walk away, and you leave things the way they are, and you put back those folks who have been protecting the status quo all these years back into power.
AUDIENCE: No!
THE PRESIDENT: In other words, their bet is on cynicism. But, Colorado, my bet is on you. (Applause.) My bet is on you -- the common sense, the decency of the American people. And the fact is, what we’re describing is not partisan, it doesn’t have to be. We’re not Democrats or Republicans first, we’re Americans first. And when the other party has been willing to work with me to make sure that everybody has got a shot, I am right there with them. Like when we cut taxes for middle-class families and small businesses. Or when we came together to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell,” we had courageous Republican senators who helped. (Applause.)
I will work with anybody of any party to move this country forward. And if you want to break the gridlock in Congress, you’ll vote for leaders who feel the same way. Folks, whether they’re Democrats, Republicans, independents, people who put their constituencies first, people who put folks who are out there working hard, trying to live out their American Dream -- put them first.
But sometimes there is going to be conflict. Sometimes bringing about change is going to butt up against the status quo. And we’ve got to be willing to fight for what we believe in, and what we care about, and what has built this country. If the price of peace in Washington is cutting deals that will kick students off of financial aid, or get rid of funding for Planned Parenthood, or let insurance companies discriminate against people with preexisting conditions, or eliminate health care for millions who are on Medicaid who are poor or elderly or disabled -- I’m not willing to pay that price. (Applause.)
That’s not bipartisanship. That’s not real change. That’s surrender to the same forces that have squeezed middle-class families for way too long. And I’m not ready to give up on the fight. And, Colorado, I hope you aren’t either. (Applause.) I hope you aren’t either.
See, the folks at the very top in this country don’t need another champion in Washington. They’ll always have a seat at the table. They’ll always have access. They’ll always have influence. We understand that. But the people who need a champion are the Americans whose letters I read late at night; the men and women I meet on the campaign trail every day.
The laid-off worker who’s gone back to a community college at the age of 55, trying to get trained in a new career -- she needs a champion. The restaurant owner who’s got great food, but needs a loan to expand after the bank turned him down -- he needs a champion. The cooks and the waiters, and the cleaning staff working overtime at a Denver hotel, trying to save enough to buy a first home or send their kid to college -- they need a champion. (Applause.)
The autoworker who thought he’d never be back on that assembly line, and now with pride and dignity he’s building a great car -- he needs a champion. The young immigrant brought here when they were a child, pledging allegiance to our flag, gone to our schools, know themselves to be Americans through and through except for a document -- they need a champion. (Applause.)
All those kids in inner cities and small farm towns, in the valleys of Ohio, or the hills of Colorado -- kids dreaming of becoming scientists or doctors or engineers or entrepreneurs, business people, diplomats, maybe even a President -- they need a champion in Washington because they don’t have lobbyists. The future will never have as many lobbyists as the status quo does, as vested interests do. But it is the dreams of those children that will be our saving grace.
And that's why I need you, Colorado -- to make sure voices are heard, to make sure your voices are heard. (Applause.) We have come too far to turn back now. We’ve come too far to let our heart grow weary.
Now is the time to keep pushing forward to educate all our kids, train all our workers, create new jobs, rebuild our infrastructure, bring our troops home, care for our veterans, broaden opportunity, grow our middle class, restore our democracy; make sure that here in America, no matter who you are, where you come from, how you started out, what you look like, it doesn't matter whether you’re black or white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, young, old, rich, poor, able, disabled, gay, straight -- here in America you can make it if you try. (Applause.)
That's why I need your vote. That's what we believe in. That's why we’re pushing forward!
And if you’re willing to work with me, and knock on some doors with me, make some phone calls with me, turn out for me, Colorado, we will win this state. (Applause.) We’ll win this election. We’ll finish what we started, and we’ll reaffirm the spirit and the bonds that make the United States of America the greatest nation on Earth. (Applause.)
God bless you. (Applause.) God bless America. Go out and vote!
END
11:18 P.M. MST
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
VETERANS DAY, 2012
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Whether they fought in Salerno or Samarra, Heartbreak Ridge or Helmand, Khe Sanh or the Korengal, our veterans are part of an unbroken chain of men and women who have served our country with honor and distinction. On Veterans Day, we show them our deepest thanks. Their sacrifices have helped secure more than two centuries of American progress, and their legacy affirms that no matter what confronts us or what trials we face, there is no challenge we cannot overcome, and our best days are still ahead.
This year, we marked the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. We began to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. We welcomed our veterans back home from Iraq, and we continued to wind down operations in Afghanistan. These milestones remind us that, though much has changed since Americans first took up arms to advance freedom's cause, the spirit that moved our forebears is the same spirit that has defined each generation of our service members. Our men and women in uniform have taught us about strength, duty, devotion, resolve -- cornerstones of a commitment to protect and defend that has kept our country safe for over 200 years. In war and in peace, their service has been selfless and their accomplishments have been extraordinary.
Even after our veterans take off the uniform, they never stop serving. Many apply the skills and experience they developed on the battlefield to a life of service here at home. They take on roles in their communities as doctors and police officers, engineers and entrepreneurs, mothers and fathers. As a grateful Nation, it is our task to make that transition possible -- to ensure our returning heroes can share in the opportunities they have given so much to defend. The freedoms we cherish endure because of their service and sacrifice, and our country must strive to honor our veterans by fulfilling our responsibilities to them and upholding the sacred trust we share with all who have served.
On days like this, we are called to reflect on immeasurable burdens that have been borne by so few. We pay tribute to our wounded, our missing, our fallen, and their families -- men and women who have known the true costs of conflict and deserve our deepest respect, now and forever. We also remember that our commitments to those who have served are commitments we must honor not only on Veterans Day, but every day. As we do so, let us reaffirm our promise that when our troops finish their tours of duty, they come home to an America that gives them the benefits they have earned, the care they deserve, and the fullest opportunity to keep their families strong and our country moving forward.
With respect for and in recognition of the contributions our service members have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation's veterans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2012, as Veterans Day. I encourage all Americans to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans through appropriate public ceremonies and private prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I call on all Americans, including civic and fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, and communities to support this day with commemorative expressions and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.
BARACK OBAMA
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
McCormick Place
Chicago, Illinois
12:38 A.M. CST
THE PRESIDENT: Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward. (Applause.)
It moves forward because of you. It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression; the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope -- the belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are an American family, and we rise or fall together, as one nation, and as one people. (Applause.)
Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come. (Applause.)
I want to thank every American who participated in this election. (Applause.) Whether you voted for the very first time or waited in line for a very long time -- (applause) -- by the way, we have to fix that. (Applause.) Whether you pounded the pavement or picked up the phone -- (applause) -- whether you held an Obama sign or a Romney sign, you made your voice heard, and you made a difference. (Applause.)
I just spoke with Governor Romney, and I congratulated him and Paul Ryan on a hard-fought campaign. (Applause.) We may have battled fiercely, but it’s only because we love this country deeply, and we care so strongly about its future. From George to Lenore to their son Mitt, the Romney family has chosen to give back to America through public service, and that is a legacy that we honor and applaud tonight. (Applause.)
In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward. (Applause.)
I want to thank my friend and partner of the last four years, America’s happy warrior -- (applause) -- the best Vice President anybody could ever hope for -- Joe Biden. (Applause.)
And I wouldn’t be the man I am today without the woman who agreed to marry me 20 years ago. (Applause.) Let me say this publicly -- Michelle, I have never loved you more. I have never been prouder to watch the rest of America fall in love with you, too, as our nation’s First Lady. (Applause.) Sasha and Malia, before our very eyes, you're growing up to become two strong, smart, beautiful young women, just like your mom. (Applause.) And I’m so proud of you guys. But I will say that for now, one dog is probably enough. (Laughter.)
To the best campaign team and volunteers in the history of politics -- (applause) -- the best. The best ever. (Applause.) Some of you were new this time around, and some of you have been at my side since the very beginning. But all of you are family. No matter what you do or where you go from here, you will carry the memory of the history we made together, and you will have the lifelong appreciation of a grateful President. Thank you for believing all the way, through every hill, through every valley. (Applause.) You lifted me up the whole way. And I will always be grateful for everything that you've done and all the incredible work that you put in. (Applause.)
I know that political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even silly. And that provides plenty of fodder for the cynics who tell us that politics is nothing more than a contest of egos, or the domain of special interests. But if you ever get the chance to talk to folks who turned out at our rallies, and crowded along a rope line in a high school gym, or saw folks working late at a campaign office in some tiny county far away from home, you'll discover something else.
You’ll hear the determination in the voice of a young field organizer who’s worked his way through college, and wants to make sure every child has that same opportunity. (Applause.) You’ll hear the pride in the voice of a volunteer who’s going door to door because her brother was finally hired when the local auto plant added another shift. (Applause.) You’ll hear the deep patriotism in the voice of a military spouse who’s working the phones late at night to make sure that no one who fights for this country ever has to fight for a job, or a roof over their head when they come home. (Applause.)
That’s why we do this. That’s what politics can be. That’s why elections matter. It's not small; it's big. It's important.
Democracy in a nation of 300 million can be noisy and messy and complicated. We have our own opinions. Each of us has deeply held beliefs. And when we go through tough times, when we make big decisions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy. That won’t change after tonight -- and it shouldn’t. These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty, and we can never forget that as we speak, people in distant nations are risking their lives right now just for a chance to argue about the issues that matter, the chance to cast their ballots like we did today. (Applause.)
But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America’s future. We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have access to the best schools and the best teachers -- (applause) -- a country that lives up to its legacy as the global leader in technology and discovery and innovation, with all the good jobs and new businesses that follow.
We want our children to live in an America that isn’t burdened by debt; that isn’t weakened by inequality; that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet. (Applause.)
We want to pass on a country that’s safe and respected and admired around the world; a nation that is defended by the strongest military on Earth and the best troops this world has ever known -- (applause) -- but also a country that moves with confidence beyond this time of war to shape a peace that is built on the promise of freedom and dignity for every human being.
We believe in a generous America; in a compassionate America; in a tolerant America, open to the dreams of an immigrant’s daughter who studies in our schools and pledges to our flag. (Applause.) To the young boy on the South Side of Chicago who sees a life beyond the nearest street corner. (Applause.) To the furniture worker’s child in North Carolina who wants to become a doctor or a scientist, an engineer or entrepreneur, a diplomat or even a President. That’s the future we hope for. That’s the vision we share. That’s where we need to go. Forward. (Applause.) That's where we need to go.
Now, we will disagree, sometimes fiercely, about how to get there. As it has for more than two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts. It's not always a straight line. It's not always a smooth path. By itself, the recognition that we have common hopes and dreams won’t end all the gridlock, or solve all our problems, or substitute for the painstaking work of building consensus, and making the difficult compromises needed to move this country forward. But that common bond is where we must begin.
Our economy is recovering. A decade of war is ending. A long campaign is now over. (Applause.) And whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you. I have learned from you. And you've made me a better President. With your stories and your struggles, I return to the White House more determined and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do, and the future that lies ahead. (Applause.)
Tonight, you voted for action, not politics as usual. (Applause.) You elected us to focus on your jobs, not ours. And in the coming weeks and months, I am looking forward to reaching out and working with leaders of both parties to meet the challenges we can only solve together: reducing our deficit; reforming our tax code; fixing our immigration system; freeing ourselves from foreign oil. We've got more work to do. (Applause.)
But that doesn’t mean your work is done. The role of citizen in our democracy does not end with your vote. America has never been about what can be done for us. It’s about what can be done by us, together, through the hard and frustrating but necessary work of self-government. (Applause.) That's the principle we were founded on.
This country has more wealth than any nation, but that’s not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military in history, but that’s not what makes us strong. Our university, culture are the envy of the world, but that’s not what keeps the world coming to our shores.
What makes America exceptional are the bonds that hold together the most diverse nation on Earth -- the belief that our destiny is shared; that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another, and to future generations; that the freedom which so many Americans have fought for and died for comes with responsibilities as well as rights, and among those are love and charity and duty and patriotism. That's what makes America great. (Applause.)
I am hopeful tonight because I have seen this spirit at work in America. I’ve seen it in the family business whose owners would rather cut their own pay than lay off their neighbors, and in the workers who would rather cut back their hours than see a friend lose a job.
I’ve seen it in the soldiers who re-enlist after losing a limb, and in those SEALs who charged up the stairs into darkness and danger because they knew there was a buddy behind them, watching their back. (Applause.)
I’ve seen it on the shores of New Jersey and New York, where leaders from every party and level of government have swept aside their differences to help a community rebuild from the wreckage of a terrible storm. (Applause.)
And I saw it just the other day in Mentor, Ohio, where a father told the story of his eight-year-old daughter, whose long battle with leukemia nearly cost their family everything, had it not been for health care reform passing just a few months before the insurance company was about to stop paying for her care. (Applause.) I had an opportunity to not just talk to the father, but meet this incredible daughter of his. And when he spoke to the crowd, listening to that father’s story, every parent in that room had tears in their eyes, because we knew that little girl could be our own. And I know that every American wants her future to be just as bright.
That’s who we are. That’s the country I'm so proud to lead as your President. (Applause.) And tonight, despite all the hardship we’ve been through, despite all the frustrations of Washington, I've never been more hopeful about our future. (Applause.) I have never been more hopeful about America. And I ask you to sustain that hope.
I’m not talking about blind optimism -- the kind of hope that just ignores the enormity of the tasks ahead or the roadblocks that stand in our path. I’m not talking about the wishful idealism that allows us to just sit on the sidelines or shirk from a fight. I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us, so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. (Applause.)
America, I believe we can build on the progress we’ve made, and continue to fight for new jobs, and new opportunity, and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founding -- the idea that if you’re willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter who you are, or where you come from, or what you look like, or where you love -- it doesn’t matter whether you're black or white, or Hispanic or Asian, or Native American, or young or old, or rich or poor, abled, disabled, gay or straight -- you can make it here in America if you’re willing to try. (Applause.)
I believe we can seize this future together -- because we are not as divided as our politics suggest; we're not as cynical as the pundits believe; we are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions; and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and forever will be, the United States of America. (Applause.) And together, with your help, and God’s grace, we will continue our journey forward, and remind the world just why it is that we live in the greatest nation on Earth. (Applause.)
Thank you, America. God bless you. God bless these United States. (Applause.)
END
12:58 A.M. CST
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
This morning, the President convened a call with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Chief of Staff Jack Lew, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security John Brennan, and other senior members of his team to receive an update on federal efforts to support ongoing response and recovery efforts. The President also received an update on the severe weather forecasted to impact the affected region in the coming days. He expressed his concern for people in the region who are vulnerable to the harsh weather conditions that are forecast for tomorrow and Thursday and was updated on efforts by FEMA to continue to provide necessary resources for potentially impacted communities, including bottled water, meals, blankets, and other commodities ahead of the storm.
The President reiterated his direction to continue to provide every available resource to support state and local and partners, including efforts to confront fuel challenges facing communities and ongoing power restoration efforts, as well as any support that can be provided ahead of the potential severe weather. On the call, the President and his team also discussed the support FEMA, HUD, and other federal partners are providing to the Governors in their effort to find long-term housing solutions for survivors whose homes have been damaged. At the requests of New Jersey and New York, FEMA continues to administer its Transitional Sheltering Assistance program - temporarily providing hotel and motel rooms to eligible individuals.
As of this morning, more than 263,000 individuals have applied for assistance with FEMA, and more than $240 million has been approved in housing and other types of direct assistance to individuals. Yesterday, Secretary Napolitano approved additional assistance to the states of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York to support debris removal efforts, a top priority that will also help expedite power restoration and other recovery efforts.
Today, Secretary Napolitano is traveling to Nassau County, N.Y., to meet with state and local officials, including Senator Charles Schumer, Congressman Peter King and Congressman Steve Israel, and view ongoing response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Sandy.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
Today, aboard Air Force One, the President convened a call with members of his Cabinet, state and local officials from affected areas, and other senior members of his team to receive a briefing on ongoing response and recovery efforts. On the call the President received an update from the National Weather Service on severe weather that could be moving into the affected region in the coming days. He also heard from Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Fugate on latest efforts to meet the continuing power and fuel challenges, as well as ongoing work in support of Governors and their teams to develop long term housing solutions for affected families.
On the call the President was joined by Governor Cuomo, Governor Malloy, Mayors and Borough Presidents from affected areas, and heard directly about potential challenges they may see as the recovery continues. The President also spoke directly to Governor Christie by phone earlier in the day. The President made clear that he expected his team to continue to make sure all available resources were being deployed effectively and asked the state and local partners to make sure they continue to raise any concerns or problems they face that federal partners could help address. The President also expressed his concern for the potential severe weather in the area over the coming days, and directed his team to provide any additional support available to state and local partners as they work to ensure affected communities are prepared ahead of the severe weather.
The President will continue to receive updates overnight, and tomorrow morning will receive a briefing by phone from Secretary Napolitano, Administrator Fugate, Chief of Staff Jack Lew, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security John Brennan, and other senior members of his team on response activities as well as an update on efforts to support preparations in the region ahead of the severe weather.
Earlier today, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, and Secretary Napolitano traveled to the affected region.
Secretary Solis met with business owners, volunteers, and affected individuals and saw recovery efforts in Brooklyn, Queens and other areas across New York. Secretary Chu met with state and local leaders and industry officials to discuss ongoing response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Sandy. Secretary Napolitano visited Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens, NY where she met with state and local officials, first responders and volunteers to discuss ongoing response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Sandy. The Secretary also announced that DHS and FEMA would provide Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York with additional funding to further expedite debris removal efforts in the communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy.
Tomorrow, Secretary Napolitano will again travel to the region to hold meetings and view response activities in New York. Additional details about Secretary Napolitano's trip to New York tomorrow will be released when they are available.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
Nationwide Arena
Columbus, Ohio
4:37 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Columbus! (Applause.) Hello, Ohio! (Applause.) Are you fired up?
AUDIENCE: Yes!
THE PRESIDENT: Are you ready to go?
AUDIENCE: Yes!
THE PRESIDENT: Fired up!
AUDIENCE: Fired up!
THE PRESIDENT: Ready to go!
AUDIENCE: Ready to go!
THE PRESIDENT: Fired up!
AUDIENCE: Fired up!
THE PRESIDENT: Ready to go?
AUDIENCE: Ready to go!
THE PRESIDENT: Give it up for Jay-Z. (Applause.)
It is an incredible honor to have Jay-Z and Bruce Springsteen on the same bill. (Applause.) And not only are they all on my iPod -- and, yes, the President has an iPod -- (laughter) -- but it’s also because both of them tell an American story.
Now, Jay-Z --
AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you, Obama!
THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.)
I told Jay-Z the other day our lives are parallel a little bit. Nobody, I think, would expect us to be where we are today when they met us as younger men. Both of us now have daughters and both of us have wives who are more popular than we are. (Laughter and applause.)
And Bruce Springsteen, all the work he’s done for this campaign. (Applause.) The Boss. He, just like Jay, they tell the story of what our country is, but also what it should be and what it can be and what we need to fight for. And I’m going to be flying with Bruce Springsteen on the last day that I’ll ever campaign -- that’s not a bad way to bring it home, with The Boss. (Applause.) With The Boss. (Applause.)
There are a few other people I want to thank before we get started: One of the toughest fighters on behalf of working families that I know -- your Senator, Sherrod Brown, is in the house. (Applause.) Someone who will follow in his footsteps if you send her to Congress -- Joyce Beatty is here. (Applause.) Your Mayor, Michael Coleman, is here. (Applause.) And give it up for your former Governor and my friend -- Ted Stickland in the house.
Now, for the past week, all of us have been focused on what’s been happening on the East Coast and one of the worst storms of our lifetime. And as a nation, we watch the harrowing images and we’ve been heartbroken by those who have been lost.
And I had a chance to visit New Jersey and talk to some of the families, and every day I’m on the phone with mayors and local officials. And what I’ve said to them -- and I think, Ohio, you’ll agree with me when I say this, because I didn’t just speak for me, I spoke for the country -- is that we will be with them every step of the way on the hard road to recovery. (Applause.) Every step of the way, because that’s what we do as Americans. We will help them rebuild. And we’ll carry on with the spirit that says no matter how bad a storm is, no matter how tough times may get, we’re all in this together. We rise or fall as one nation and as one people. (Applause.)
That spirit has guided this country along its improbable journey for more than two centuries. It’s carried us through the trials and tribulations of the last four years.
Now, in 2008, we were in the middle of two wars and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Today, our businesses have created nearly 5.5 million new jobs. (Applause.) The American auto industry has come roaring back. Home values are on the rise. We’re less dependent on foreign oil than any time in the last 20 years. (Applause.) Because of the service and sacrifice of our brave men and women in uniform, the war in Iraq is over. (Applause.) The war in Afghanistan is ending. Al Qaeda is on the path to defeat. (Applause.) Osama bin Laden is dead. (Applause.) We’ve made progress these last four years. (Applause.)
We’ve made real progress, Ohio, but the reason why we’re here is because we’ve got more work to do. Our work is not yet done. As long as there is a single American who wants a job and can’t find one, our work is not yet done. As long as there are families anywhere in Ohio, anywhere in the country, working harder but falling behind, we’re not finished. As long as there’s a child anywhere in this country who’s languishing in poverty, and barred from opportunity, our fight goes on. (Applause.)
Our fight goes on, Ohio, because this nation cannot succeed without a growing, thriving middle class and roads -- and paths of opportunity for everybody who is willing to work hard to get into the middle class. (Applause.) Our fight goes on because America always does best when everybody gets a fair shot, and everybody does their fair share, and everybody plays by the same rules. (Applause.) That’s what we believe. That’s why you elected me in 2008. And that’s why I’m running for a second term for President of the United States. (Applause.)
Now, Ohio, tomorrow, you’ve got a choice to make -- although some of you have already made the choice. How many have early voter around here? (Applause.) This is not just a choice between two candidates or two parties. It’s a choice between two different visions of America. It’s a choice between a return to the top-down economic policies that crashed our economy, or a vision that says we’ve got to build a strong foundation based on a strong and growing middle class, and opportunity for everybody, not just some. (Applause.)
As Americans, we honor the strivers and the dreamers and the risk-takers, the businesspeople, the free enterprise system -- the greatest engine of growth and prosperity the world has ever known. That’s what we believe in. But we also know that our system, our economy works best when everybody is participating, not just some; when everybody has a chance to get a great education; when everybody has a chance to learn the skills they need to compete. (Applause.) Our economy does best when we invest in the common enterprise of basic research to create new technologies and new industries and new jobs.
We believe America is stronger when everybody can count on affordable health insurance -- (applause) -- when everybody can count on Medicare and Social Security in their golden years. (Applause.) We think our markets work best, our economy works best when there are some rules in place to protect our kids from toxic dumping and pollution -- (applause) -- to protect consumers from being taken advantage of by unscrupulous credit card companies or mortgage lenders.
And we also believe, by the way, there are some things Washington should not do. For example, we don't need a bunch of politicians trying to control health care decisions that women are perfectly capable of making themselves. (Applause.)
Now, for four years [sic] we had a President who shared these beliefs -- his name was Bill Clinton. (Applause.) And it’s interesting when he first came into office, his economic plan asked the wealthiest Americans to pay a little more so we could reduce our deficit and invest in the skills and ideas of our people. And at the time, the Republican Congress and a certain a Senate candidate by the name of Mitt Romney --
AUDIENCE: Booo --
THE PRESIDENT: Don't boo -- vote. Vote. (Applause.) You don't need to boo. Folks can't hear you boo, but they can hear you vote. (Applause.)
So, anyway, this candidate, Mr. Romney, along with the Republican Congress, they all said, Bill Clinton’s plan is terrible. It will hurt the economy. It’s going to kill jobs. Turns out their math was just as bad then as it is now. (Laughter.) Because by the end of Bill Clinton’s second term, America created 23 million new jobs; and incomes were up and poverty was down; and our deficit had become a surplus.
So we’ve tried our ideas, and they worked. How about the other guys ideas? We tried those, too. After Bill Clinton left office, the Republicans had a chance to try their ideas out. And we tried giving big tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. We tried giving insurance companies and oil companies and Wall Street a free license, do whatever you please. And we got falling incomes and record deficits and the slowest job growth in half a century, and it culminated in the worst financial crisis that we’ve ever seen in our lifetimes.
So we’ve tried -- we’ve tried our ideas and they work. We’ve tried their ideas, and they don't work. And this means this should be a pretty easy choice. But you got to give him credit. Governor Romney is a very talented salesman. And so in this campaign, he’s tried to repackage the old ideas that don't work and offer them up as change. He’s tried to pretend that somehow these old ideas that did not work are new and will work this time.
But here’s the thing, Ohio: We know what change looks like. (Applause.) And what he’s selling ain't it. Giving more power to the biggest banks is not change. Another $5 trillion tax cut favoring the wealthy -- not change. Refusing to answer questions about the details of your policies until after the election, that's definitely not change. (Applause.) That's an old trick. Ruling out compromise by pledging to rubber-stamp the tea party’s agenda in Congress -- not change. Changing the facts when they're inconvenient to your campaign, that's definitely not change. (Applause.)
Now, that's why when you’re making this choice, Ohio, you have to remember that this isn’t just about policy, it’s also about trust. Ohio, after four years, you know me by now -- you know me. (Applause.) You may not agree with every single decision I’ve made -- that’s okay because Michelle doesn’t either -- (laughter.) You may be frustrated some times at the pace of change. I promise you, so am I. But you know that I mean what I say, and I say what I mean. (Applause.)
I said I’d end the war in Iraq -- I ended it. (Applause.) I said I’d repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell” -- I repealed it. (Applause.) I said we’d pass health care reform -- we passed it. (Applause.) I said we’d save an auto industry -- we saved it. (Applause.) I do what I say. You know what I believe. You know where I stand. You know I tell the truth. (Applause.) And you know I will fight for you and your family every single day as hard as I know how. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: You know that I know what real change looks like because you’ve seen me fight for it. I’ve got the scars to prove it. I’ve got the gray hair to prove it. (Laughter.) And you’ve had my back in that fight. And after all we’ve been through together, we can’t give up on it now. We’ve got more work to do. (Applause.)
We know what change we’re going to be delivering over the next four years -- a country where every American has a shot at a great education. Let me tell you, government can’t do it all --parents have to parent; students, you have to study. But don’t tell me hiring more teachers will not help this economy grow -- it will. (Applause.) Don’t tell me students who can’t afford college should just borrow money from their parents. That wasn’t an option for me. I’ll bet it’s not an option for a lot of you. (Applause.)
And that’s why I want to cut the growth of tuition so our young people aren’t burdened with debt. I want to recruit 100,000 math and science teachers so our kids don’t fall behind. I want to train 2 million Americans at our community colleges with the skills that businesses are looking for right now. That’s what real change is. That’s what’s at stake in this election. That’s what we’re fighting for.
Change comes when we live up to this country’s legacy of innovation. I’m proud we saved the auto industry. But I'm even prouder that we're making better cars now than we used to. (Applause.) By the middle of the next decade, American cars will be going twice as far on a gallon of gas. That will save you money. (Applause.) It will help the environment. It will help cut our oil imports. And we can't just stop at oil or we can't just stop at cars.
We've got thousands of workers here in Ohio and across the country building long-lasting batteries, building wind turbines. I don’t want to subsidize oil company profits. I want to support new energy, the energy of tomorrow that will cut our oil imports in half. (Applause.) I don’t want a tax code that rewards companies for creating jobs overseas. I want to fight with Sherrod Brown to make sure that we are delivering those tax breaks to companies that are investing right here in Ohio, right here in the United States, hiring American workers. That's what we're fighting for. (Applause.) That’s the future I see for this country.
Change is turning the page on a decade of war so we can do some nation-building here at home. (Applause.) As long as I’m Commander-in-Chief, I will pursue our enemies with the strongest military the world has ever known. But it’s time to use the savings from ending the war in Iraq, from transitioning out of Afghanistan, to pay down our debt, rebuild America -- put people back to work repairing roads, making our schools state of the art, hiring our veterans because if you fought for this country you shouldn't have to fight for a job when you come home. (Applause.)
That's my commitment. That's what's at stake in this election. Change is a future where we have to reduce our deficit, but do it in a balanced way. And I've signed a trillion dollars’ worth of spending cuts; I intend to do more. But if we’re serious about reducing the deficit, we've got to ask the wealthiest Americans to go back to the tax rates they paid when Bill Clinton was in office. (Applause.) Because, listen, a budget is about priorities, it’s about values. And I'm not going to kick some kid off of Head Start so I can get a tax break. (Applause.) I'm not going to turn Medicare into a voucher just to pay for another millionaire's tax cut. (Applause.) That's not who we are.
We know what real change is. We know what the future requires. And we also know it won’t be easy. And that’s because when I talked about change back in 2008, I wasn’t just talking about changing presidents or changing parties. I was talking about changing our politics. (Applause.)
I ran because the voices of the American people -- your voices -- had been shut out of our democracy for way too long by lobbyists and special interests and politicians who will say anything or do anything to protect things just the way they are. Over the last four years, the status quo in Washington has fought us every step of the way. They spent millions to try to stop us from reforming health care. They spent millions trying to stop us from reforming Wall Street. They engineered a strategy of gridlock in Congress, refusing to compromise on ideas that used to be Democrats and Republicans supported in the past.
And what they’re counting on now is that you’re going to be so fed up, so worn down by all the arguing, so tired of all the dysfunction that you’ll just give up. You'll walk away.
AUDIENCE: Booo --
THE PRESIDENT: You'll let them go ahead and make all the decisions. In other words, their bet is on cynicism. Ohio, my bet is on you. (Applause.) My hope is with you. My fight is for you.
And that is not a partisan statement. When the other party has been willing to work with me to help middle-class families and working families, I love to work with them. They helped cut middle-class taxes and small business taxes. We came together. We had Republicans who helped us repeal "don't ask, don't tell." I respect that. (Applause.) I will work with anybody of any party to move this country forward.
And if you want to end the gridlock in Congress, you’ll vote for leaders like Sherrod Brown and Joyce Beatty who will put Americans first, not elections first. (Applause.)
But you know what we can't do is give up on our principles. There are some things that we do have to fight for. There are some things that we’ve got to fight for. We’ve got to make sure that if the price of peace in Washington is cutting deals that are going to kick students off of financial aid, or get rid of funding for Planned Parenthood, or let insurance companies discriminate against people with preexisting conditions, or eliminate health care for millions on Medicaid who are poor or elderly or disabled, that's not a price I’m willing to pay. (Applause.) That's not bipartisanship. That is not change.
That's surrender to the same status quo that's hurt middle-class families for way too long.
And, Ohio, I’m not ready to give up on the fight. I’ve got a whole lot of fight left in me, and I hope you do, too. I hope you do, too. (Applause.)
The folks at the very top in this country, they don't need another champion in Washington. They’ll always have a seat at the table. They’ll always have access and influence. That's the way things are. We understand that. The people who need a champion are the Americans whose letters I read late at night; the men and women I meet on the campaign trail every day.
The laid-off worker who is having to go back and retrain at the age of 55 at a community college -- she needs a champion. The restaurant owner who has got some great food, but needs a loan to expand after the bank turned him down -- he needs a champion. The cooks and waiters and cleaning staff working overtime at Columbus hotel, trying to save enough to buy a first home or send their kids to college -- they need a champion. (Applause.)
The autoworker who is back on the job, filled with pride and dignity of building a great car -- he needs a champion. (Applause.) The teacher in an overcrowded classroom, having to dig into her own pocket to buy school supplies, but shows up every day believing in those students -- she needs a champion. (Applause.)
All those kids in inner cities and small farm towns, in these Ohio valleys, or the rolling hills of Virginia, somewhere in Jersey, somewhere in Brooklyn, maybe even a kid in Hawaii -- kids dreaming of becoming scientists or doctors, engineers or entrepreneurs, diplomats or musicians, maybe even a President, they need a champion in Washington. Because the future -- (applause) -- the future is what we’re fighting for. The future never has lobbyists like the status quo does, but the dreams of those children will be our saving grace.
That’s why I need you, Ohio. To make sure their voices are heard; to make sure your voices are heard. We’ve come too far to turn back now. We’ve come too far to let our hearts grow faint. Now is the time to keep pushing forward to educate all our kids, to train all our workers, to create new jobs, rebuild our infrastructure, bring our troops home, care for our veterans, broaden opportunity, restore our democracy, build the middle class -- make sure that in this country, no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, no matter how you got started here in America, you can make it if you try. (Applause.)
That’s why I’m asking for your vote. And if you’re willing to work with me again, knock on some doors with me, and make some phone calls, and turn out, we will win Ohio. We’ll win this election. We’ll finish what we started. We’ll renew those ties that bind us together and reaffirm the spirit that makes the United States of America the greatest nation on Earth. (Applause.)
God bless you, Ohio. God bless the United States of America. Let’s go vote. Let’s go do this. (Applause.)
END
5:04 P.M. EST
