The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release

March 16, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady at a Campaign Event

Walker Art Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota

5:50 P.M. CDT

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, you guys are just happy because it’s warm. (Laughter.) Thank you so much. I can’t tell you what a pleasure and an honor it is to be here with all of you.

It is warm in here. (Laughter.) So if anybody needs to sit down and take a rest -- because I know sometimes -- please, feel free. I know you guys aren’t used to this kind of weather at this time of year. (Laughter.)

But I am just thrilled to be here. And I want to start by thanking Kelly for that very powerful introduction. Absolutely. (Applause.) And for sharing her story. And I got to meet Elliott. Elliott is handsome. (Laughter.) And he has this wonderful, increasingly deep voice. So they are blessed. And it is because of stories like these that my husband worked so hard to get health reform passed. And it’s because of people like Kelly and like all of you that we got it done. (Applause.) So congratulations to all of you.

I also want to recognize a few people -- Governor Dayton, who was here. I know he’s probably not here, but he was here. He was there to greet me at the airport. I want to thank him and Senator Klobuchar. Amy was here.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yeah, Amy!

MRS. OBAMA: Amy! (Applause.) Senator Franken and his
wife are here. Yes! (Applause.) And one of our favorite mayors, Mayor Rybak and his family are here. (Applause.) As well as Mayor Coleman and his family. We’re so delighted to have you all here. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you, all, for your leadership. Thank you for your service. Thank you for taking the time to be here today.

And I also want to give a special shout-out to some of our Host Committee people -- Sam Hines, Stacy, Amy, Andy, you guys and the rest of the Host Committee. Yes! (Applause.) Not only did you create a successful event but you got folks fired up, even before I got here. So this is great.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Ready to go!

MRS. OBAMA: (Laughter.) Fired up and ready to go.

And finally, I want to thank you all of you. Truly, thank you for your support. Thank you for being with us this evening. And I know that there is a reason why you all are here. And it’s not just because it’s a nice day, you’re here because you know that we stand at a fundamental crossroads for our country.
You know that in less than a year from now, we are going to make a choice that will impact our lives for decades to come.

And I know you’re here because you know that choice won’t just affect all of us, but it’s going to affect our children, it’s going to affect our grandchildren, and it’s going to affect the world that we leave for them long after we’re gone.

And believe me, that is why I am here this evening. That’s why I’m going to be out on the campaign trail really hard. (Applause.)

One of the greatest things about being First Lady is that I have had the privilege of traveling across this great country, and our country is great. Meeting folks from all different backgrounds and hearing what’s going on in their daily lives. And every day, I hear about how people are struggling to keep it together -- how they’re paying their bills, trying to keep their businesses afloat. I hear about how people are doing everything in their power to keep it together, taking that extra shift, working that extra job. How people are saving and sacrificing, many never spending a dime on themselves because they desperately want something better for their kids.

And make no mistake about it, these struggles are not new. For decades now, middle-class folks have been squeezed from all sides. The cost of things like gas, groceries, tuition have continued to go up, but people’s paychecks haven’t kept pace. So when the economic crisis hit, for far too many families, the bottom completely fell out.

Now, over the past three years, your President has worked very hard to dig ourselves out of this mess. (Applause.) And we have made some excellent progress -- excellent. You may remember that when my husband took office, we were losing on average more than 750,000 jobs a month. That’s when he came into office. Bur recently, we learned that we’ve now had 24 straight months of private sector job growth. (Applause.) Just to do the math, two years. (Applause.) Two straight years we have been adding private sector jobs for a total of more than 3.9 million jobs. (Applause.)

So let me tell you, I am proud of everything my husband has done to get our economy moving, and I know you all are, too. I know that. We are all proud of everything he’s done to get this economy back on track. But we also know that we still have a long way to go. We still have a long way to rebuild our country on an economy that is built to last -- a vision that we all share. The belief that, as my husband says, and as Kelly mentioned, that hard work should pay off; that responsibility should be rewarded; and that everyone in this country should get a fair shot, they should do their fair share, but more importantly, they should play by the same rules.

Those values are the foundation for an economy built to last, and they are basic American values. They are the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself. You all know my story by now. My father was a blue-collar worker -- city water plant. My family lived in a little bitty apartment on the South Side of Chicago. Neither of my parents went to college, but let me tell you what they did do. They worked for us. They saved for us. They sacrificed everything so that my brother and I could have things they only imagined.

And more than anything else, that’s what’s at stake. That’s what we’re working for. (Applause.) That fundamental promise that no matter who you are or how you started out, that if you work hard, you can build a decent life for yourself and yes, an even better life for your kids.

And let me tell you, on just about every single issue -– from health care to education to the economy -– that is the choice that we face in this election.

For example, when we talk about tax cuts for middle-class families, or you hear the President talking about unemployment insurance for folks out of work, that’s about whether people can heat their homes. That’s what those conversations are about. It’s about whether people can put gas in their car so that they can even look for a job. It’s about whether folks can send their kids to college; retire with a little dignity and security. And it’s about whether people will have more money in their pockets, which means more money in our economy, which means more jobs. That’s what’s at stake.

And when it comes to jobs, just think back to when all those folks in Washington were telling Barack to let the auto industry go under, with more than a million jobs on the line. But Barack had the backs of American workers. He put his faith in the American people. (Applause.) And as a result, today, the auto industry is back, and more importantly, people are back at work, able to provide for their families. But that’s what’s at stake. That’s the choice we face.

And think for a minute about what this administration has done to stand up for American consumers. I’m talking about families getting hit with all those hidden credit card fees. I’m talking about students drowning in debt, our seniors losing their homes and savings because they were tricked into loans they couldn’t afford, probably couldn’t understand.

And that’s why my husband created a new consumer watchdog with just one simple mission -– that is to protect folks from exactly these kinds of abuses. Because when you’ve worked and you’ve saved and you’ve followed the rules, you shouldn’t lose it all to someone trying to make a little easy money. Your President knows that is not fair, it’s not right. (Applause.) And he is working to do something about it. (Applause.) Absolutely.

And what about all that this administration has done for our small businesses? These are the companies that create two-thirds of all new jobs each year -- two-thirds. And when you’re talking about these small businesses you’re talking about the mother who opens up the drycleaner to take care of her kids. That’s what you’re talking about. You’re talking about the family that’s been running that neighborhood diner for generations. Or the veteran who starts -- launches a startup and pursues the American Dream he fought so hard for. See, this is who we’re talking about. These are the folks who work themselves to the bone during the day, then head home and pore over the books late into the night, determined to make the numbers add up.

And for these folks, that small business tax cut that this administration has passed, that means the difference between hiring new employees or handing out pink slips. It means the difference between keeping their doors open or closing shop for good. But that’s the choice that we face.

And what about the very first bill my husband signed into law -- the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work? (Applause.) And Barack did this because he knows what it means when women are treated unfairly in the workplace. He watched his own grandmother -– a woman with a high school education -– work her way up to become a vice president at a little community bank. And she worked hard, and she was good at what she did. But like so many women, she hit that glass ceiling, and watched women -- men, no more qualified than she was –- men she had actually trained –- be promoted up the ladder right ahead of her. So believe me, for Barack, this issue is not abstract. This isn’t hypothetical.

He signed this bill because he knows that closing that pay gap for so many women can mean the difference of losing $50, $100, $500 from each paycheck, or having that money in their pockets to buy gas and groceries, and put clothes on the back of their children. (Applause.) He did it because when nearly two-thirds of women are breadwinners or co-breadwinners, women’s success in this economy is the key to families’ success in this economy. (Applause.)

And he did it because, as he put it, we believe that here in America there are no second-class citizens in our workplace. But that’s what’s at stake.

And let’s talk for a minute, as Kelly did, about health care. She reminded us two years ago we made history together by finally passing health reform. But now there are folks actually talking about repealing that reform. And today, we have to ask ourselves, are we going to stand by and just let that happen?

AUDIENCE: No!

MRS. OBAMA: And since we passed this law, millions of our senior citizens have saved on average more than $600 a year on their prescription drugs. (Applause.) So are we going to take that savings away from them? Or will we make sure that our parents and grandparents can afford to stay healthy into their golden years? Are we going back to the days when insurance companies could deny our children coverage of pre-existing conditions, things like diabetes, cancer, asthma? Or will we stand up and say that in this country, as Kelly said, no one -- no one should ever have to choose between going bankrupt or watching their child suffer because they can’t afford a doctor.

And then when those kids grow up and they graduate from school, we know how hard it is for them to find a job that provides insurance. That’s why, as part of health reform, kids can now stay on their parent’s insurance until they’re 26 years old. (Applause.) And today, that is how 2.5 million of our young people are getting their coverage. So are we going to take that insurance away from our children? Or will we say that we don’t want our sons and our daughters going without health care when they’re just starting out in life, trying to build families and careers of their own? But that’s the choice we face. Those are the stakes.

And think, for a moment, about what’s been done on education. Think about all the investments to raise standards and reform our public schools. This is about improving the circumstances for millions of children in this country. These are our children -- children we know today that are sitting in crumbling classrooms, children that we know have so much promise, could be anything they wanted if we just gave them the chance.

And think about how my husband has been fighting for the DREAM Act -- (applause) -- so that talented, hardworking young people who were brought to this country through no fault of their own can have a chance to earn their citizenship. This is about responsible young men and women who want to go to college,
they want to defend our country, they want to contribute to our economy. And it's time that we gave them the chance. It’s time. (Applause.)

And think about how we tripled in investments and job training at community colleges. This is about hundreds of thousands of hardworking people who are determined to get the skills they need for the jobs they need for better wages. These are the people doing everything we ask of them. They’re working a full-time job, trying to raise their kids, but still making it to class in the evenings, working late into the night, because they desperately want something better for their families.

And make no mistake about it, this investment that we make in our students, in our workers will determine nothing less than the future of this economy. It’s going to determine whether we’re prepared to make the discoveries and to build the industries that will allow us compete with any country anywhere in the world. That’s what’s at stake. (Applause.)

And let us not forget what it meant when my husband appointed those two brilliant Supreme Court justices -- (applause) -- and for the first time in history, our daughters and our sons watched three women take their seat on our nation’s highest court. (Applause.) And let us not forget the impact their decisions will have on our lives for decades to come -– on our privacy and security, on whether we can speak freely, worship openly, and yes, love whomever we choose. But that’s what’s at stake. (Applause.) That is the choice we’re facing.

And finally, let us not forget all this administration has done to keep our country safe and restore our standing in the world. Thanks to our brave men and women in uniform, we finally brought to justice the man behind the 9/11 attacks and so many other horrific acts of terror. (Applause.)

As he promised, my husband ended the war in Iraq, brought our troops home for the holidays. (Applause.) And I know that members of the Minnesota National Guard, the Red Bulls, have played a key role in that effort. And we are all so proud of them -- (applause) -- all of the men and women in this state who have served our country so bravely. And we are working hard to give them and their families the education, the employment and the benefits they’ve earned.

And finally, because my husband ended "don’t ask, don’t tell," -- (applause) -- our troops will never again have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love. (Applause.) But that’s what’s at stake. Those are the choices that we face.

So make no mistake about it, whether it’s health care or the economy, whether it’s education or foreign policy, the choice we make in this election will determine nothing less than who we are as a country, but more importantly, it will determine who we want to be. Who are we?

Will we be the country where opportunity is limited to just the few at the top? Who are we? This is what we have to decide. Or will we be a place where if you work hard, you can get ahead, no matter who you are or how you started out? Who are we? (Applause.)

Will we tell folks who have done everything right, but are struggling a little bit, are we going to tell them, “tough luck, you’re on your own”? Who are we? Or will we honor that fundamental American belief that this country is strongest when we’re all better off? Who are we going to be? (Applause.) Will we continue all the change we’ve begun and the progress we’ve made, or are we just going to allow everything we fought for to just slip away?

AUDIENCE No!

MRS. OBAMA: But that is the choice we face. Those are the stakes.

And believe me, everywhere I go I remind people, your President, Barack Obama, knows this all too well. He understands these issues because he’s lived them. He was raised by a single mother who struggled to put herself through school and pay the bills, and when she couldn’t keep it together, who stepped up? His grandmother -- waking up every morning to catch that bus before dawn to that job at the bank. And even though she was passed over all those years for promotion, she never once complained. She just kept showing up, kept doing her best. How many people in our lives do we know like that? Just keep moving forward.

So believe me, Barack knows what it means when a family struggles. He knows what it means when someone doesn’t have a chance to fulfill their potential. Those are the experiences that have made him the man, and, more importantly, the President that he is today. And we are blessed to have him. (Applause.)

And that is what I hear in his voice when he returns home from a long day of travel or working at the Oval Office and he tells me about the people he’s met. And that’s what I see in those quiet moments late at night, after the girls have gone to bed, and he’s still up, poring over briefings and reading the letters that people have sent him. The letter from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won’t cover her care. The letter from the father still struggling to pay his family’s bills. The letters from far too many young people with so much promise, but so few opportunities.

And I hear the passion and determination in his voice. He says, “Michelle, you won’t believe what folks are still going through.” That’s what he -- he says, “Michelle, this isn’t right. We have got to fix this. There is so much more to do.”
(Applause.)

What you have to remember about your President is that he never forgets a story -- never forgets it. If he’s had a minute and a decent conversation with you, he will never forget your story. It becomes imprinted on his heart. And that is what he carries with him all day, every day -– it is our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams. And believe me, that is where Barack gets his passion, that’s where he gets his toughness and his fight.

And let me tell you, that’s why, even in the hardest moments, when it seems like all is lost, Barack Obama never loses sight of the end goal -- never. (Applause.) He never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise. Like his grandmother, he just keeps moving forward. See, because the important thing you have to know about your President is that he has a vision for this country. And it is a vision that we all share. I don’t care where you’re from, what party you are from. We do share this vision. We do know that.

But let me tell you, I have said it before and I will say it again: Barack can’t do this alone. He cannot to do this alone -- that was never the promise. He needs your help. He needs your faith. He needs your hard work. He needs you to make those calls. More importantly, register those voters today. He needs you to take those “I’m In” cards -- if you haven’t gotten one, get one -- sign it. And get your friends and your neighbors, your colleagues, your church members, go to the synagogue -- get people to sign up. Convince them just to give a little bit of their time each week to fight for what’s at stake. (Applause.)

Because we all know that this has never, ever been about just one extraordinary man –- I think my husband is awesome -- (applause) -- but this journey has never been about him. It has always been about us -- all of us coming together for the values we believe in and the country we want to be. That’s what we fought for four years ago -- three years ago, how long has it been? (Laughter.)

Now, I am not going to kid you, this next phase of the journey, it is going to be long, that I guarantee you. It is going to be hard. And there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way. So be prepared for that. But the truth is, that is how change always happens in this country. It always does. The reality is, is that change is slow. Real change never happens all at once.

But if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, working for that vision that we know and believe in, then eventually we get there. We always do. We always do. We never go backward, we never have. (Applause.) Maybe not in our lifetime, maybe not in our children’s lifetime, maybe in our children or our grandchildren’s lifetimes. Because in the end, we have to remember that’s what this is all about.

We can never lose sight of the fact that we are fighting these battles not for ourselves. We are fighting them for our sons and daughters. We are fighting them for our grandsons and our granddaughters. (Applause.) We are fighting for the world we want to leave for them. This is not about us. We’ve had so many people who have fought for us already -- it’s our turn.

And believe me, I am in this fight not just as a mother who wants to leave a legacy for her daughters. I’m in this as a citizen who knows what we can do together to change this country for the better. Because the truth of the matter is, is that my girls will be fine. Malia and Sasha are blessed -- I remind them of that every day. (Laughter.) And that’s probably true for so many of the young people in this room.

But I think the last few years have shown us the truth of what Barack has always said: that if any child in this country falls behind, then that matters to all of us, even if he is not our son, even if she is not our daughter. It matters to all of us. If any family in this country struggles, then we cannot be fully content with our own family’s good fortune -- because in the end, that’s not who we are. We cannot separate our own individual stories from the broader American story. Because we know that in this country, we rise and we fall together. (Applause.) And if we make the right choices, and have the right priorities, we can ensure that everyone in this country gets a fair shake and everyone has a chance to get ahead. That’s what’s at stake. That’s what we’re working for.

So it is time for us to get moving. No, now is the time. No, I’m serious. Now is the time. We don’t have days to ponder or wonder. If we know who we want to be then now is the time to work. There is one person who will be working this presidential race who can get us there.

So I have to ask you just one last question: Are you in? (Applause.) No, no, I need to really hear this. Are you in? Are you in? (Applause.) Because let me tell you, I am so fired up. And I hope you all know we are going to be working hard every minute of the day. We need you by our sides. We can make this happen. I know we can. We have so much more work to do.
I will see you out on the campaign trail.

You all, thank you. God bless. (Applause.)

END
6:17 P.M. CDT

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release

March 16, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady at Joining Forces Event

Minnesota Air National Guard Hangar
Minneapolis, Minnesota

3:59 P.M. CDT

MRS. OBAMA: Well, first of all, let me make sure you guys know that everything that we’re doing with Joining Forces wouldn’t happen without Brad. He is the person on the ground making a lot of this stuff happen. So, yes -- (applause.) And he’s so much fun to hang out with. (Laughter.)

But I want to thank you all, first of all, for taking the time. I know that hanging out with the First Lady is never just an easy thing to do. But it is so important to shine a spotlight on the work that you all are doing, and that’s really what Joining Forces is all about. I mean, we know that we live in a grateful nation, and that people, when asked, will step up on behalf of our families. But I know you guys don’t always do the asking, because, first of all, you’re just trying to get through it. You’re proud, you’re brave. So Jill and I are doing the asking on your behalf.

And we have just been amazed at how organizations and businesses and individuals are stepping in ways large and small. And what we try to do, in addition to encouraging more organizations, more individuals to do good things, is to highlight the great work that’s happening already and was happening long before Jill and I showed up on the scene.

And this state is one of the models because of so many of the things you all are doing. And I want to make sure that the rest of the nation understands how you work as a state, how your organizations come together, the needs of our military families and how organizations can serve them.

So you’re doing me a favor. You’re educating me, but you’re also educating the nation. So I do want you all to relax and to just tell your story. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. But you’re doing the service for the rest of the military families and organizations out there by just being honest about what you’re going through, what your needs are, and what the many organizations in your communities are doing to make that better.

So that’s really why we’re here. So, again, I’m grateful to you all for all the sacrifice that you all make. And we want to make sure that country understands that. Now, one thing we say is that we’ve got 1 percent of this country serving and sacrificing on behalf of the other 99 percent of us. And some -- and that can be a daunting position to be in. And a lot of times America just doesn’t understand the struggles and the -- we take it for granted because you all handle and shoulder the burden so well.

But it’s time for people to really understand what military families and our military kids go through. It’s not easy doing what you do -- keeping grades up, being on sports, and changing schools every few years, and having a dad that’s deploying. That is not an easy thing to go through. And you should be proud of what you do for your family and what you do just to get through.

You guys, military kids -- you guys are amazing. So be proud and just keep doing what you’re doing. Okay?

All right. I’ll stop talking. I can talk for hours. (Laughter.) I’ll turn it back over to Brad.

END
4:02 P.M. CDT

First Lady Michelle Obama Previews the U.K. State Dinner

March 14, 2012 | 34:32 | Public Domain

First Lady Michelle Obama speaks to the press, students and other young people before a sneak peek of preparations for the U.K. state dinner, including what the inside of the tent will look like and details about the evening’s menu.

Download mp4 (330MB) | mp3 (79MB)

Read the Transcript

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release

March 14, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady at State Dinner Press Preview

State Dining Room

1:55 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA: Well, isn't this beautiful? Every time I see this -- see, I'm getting to see the full effect along with you all. The placements are beautiful.

Well, welcome. Good afternoon. How's everybody doing? Welcome to the White House.

One of the things that I love to do -- we're doing a press preview. And just to be simple, we open up the state dinner to the press so that they get to see what the inside of the tent is going to look like, what the feel of the dinner is going to be, and what the menu is going to taste like, and all of that good stuff. So that’s something that we generally do with the state dinner.

But over the years, as we've invited guests here, we also try to open up these press previews to students and young people, so that you all get a sense of what actually happens at a state dinner -- what goes on at that dinner; what's the purpose of it; what does it feel like. So we have decided -- we have made this a wonderful tradition to invite you all here to the press preview to be a part of it. And that’s what we're doing this afternoon.

And we have three wonderful groups of young women who are with us today. We've got National Cathedral School students who are here. Where are you guys? Right here in D.C. Hello. How are you guys? What years do we have here?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Juniors and seniors.

MRS. OBAMA: Juniors and seniors. Excellent. Excellent.

And we also have the Elizabeth Seton High School students in Maryland. Where are you all? Over there. What years?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Twelfth.

MRS. OBAMA: Twelfth. Going to college? Moving and grooving? You guys are all ready to -- college bound as well? Good. Good.

And then we have some very special guests from the United Kingdom, our young ladies -- 12 of them -- from the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School. And these young ladies are right here with us, and they are 12 wonderful young people. I have developed a terrific relationship with the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School over the years.

When I did my very first visit to the UK a couple of years ago, I got to visit the school. And the students there were amazing. They did a wonderful program for me, and I was so touched and so moved and felt so connected to them that one of the things I wanted to do was just stay connected. And we have done that.

And when we visited again last year, I took a group of them to Oxford to see one of the finest colleges in the country to make sure that like all of you young women here, that our girls in the UK were reaching for the greatest heights possible and seeing the inside of some of the most astounding institutions their country has to offer. And when I was there, I invited them back to the United States.

And because of their wonderful teachers and sponsors and mentors, they selected 12 students who had to compete, actually, to attend this trip -- write essays and show their leadership skills. And these are the 12 young women who were selected, and they've been here for a few days; you've gotten to go to the State Department.

We met yesterday with the mentees that I host here at the White House. We had a good little conversation; you guys did some community service with our mentees yesterday, and we're grateful -- at Martha's Table. So we're very proud of the investment that you're making while you're here.

So we are just happy to have all of you here this afternoon. And we want you to relax, enjoy yourselves. Because you're going to hear a bit about what a state visit -- what we try to accomplish at a state visit. And you're going to hear from Brooke Anderson -- she's the Chief of Staff for the National Security Staff -- who's to my left. And she's going to talk a bit about what a state visit means, what we're trying to accomplish with this particular state visit. And she can answer anything. She's phenomenal, she's smart, she knows a little bit about everything. So she's going to help you guys through that.

And we also have one of my dear friends, Cris Comerford, who's the Executive Chef for the White House. So she is responsible for what we eat -- she designs the menu, she works with her staff. And let me tell you, we have hundreds of guests coming tonight, and it is a complete production for them to put together this meal.

And the White House is a big place, but the kitchen is really teeny. You wouldn’t believe it; it's a little-bitty kitchen. So they have to really man the engines to make it happen. But actually, because we're in a tent tonight, you probably have more space than you usually do when we have the dinner here.

But Cris will talk about the menu; she'll talk about what they think about in pulling together an event like this. And again, you can ask her any questions as well. She is one of the first female executive White House chefs that the White House has ever had. And she cooks for our family, she does all the special occasions, she feeds the nation as they come through the White House. And she is very good at what she does.

So we have two wonderful people here today who will lead you through a presentation. So you guys, as I always say to the young women who come -- speak up. Ask questions. This is -- it's only formal because we wanted you to see what it's going to feel like. But other than that, you guys enjoy yourselves. Learn as much as you can. Don’t be hesitant.

And then, to top it off, we're going to let you guys try some of the dessert -- (laughter) -- that we're going to have. And you'll be the first -- after me. I think me and Grandma and a couple of people, we've tasted the desserts, but you guys will be the first to taste the desserts tonight.

So we are just excited to have you. We're very proud of all of you, because all of you have shown a level of dedication to your school and your community, a level of leadership. And I'm sure that’s why your school selected you to be here. We are very proud of you. And hopefully, you'll be on the other end of some state dinner -- maybe you'll be doing what Brooke is doing, or doing what Cris is doing, or maybe you'll be doing what I'm doing or what President Obama is doing. But you'll get a taste of what you might do when you get into these high posts, because we expect very big things from all of you. All right?

So I'm going to go, because I have to go look at the tent. I'm going to see what's going on there. And I will hand it over to Brooke, who will take good care of you. It's great to see you all. Love you guys. Have fun.

All right, take care. (Applause.)

END
2:02 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release

March 13, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady at Mini-Olympic Games Event

American University
Washington, D.C.

4:57 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, you guys can have a seat. You've done well. You've done well. Have you guys had fun today?

AUDIENCE: Yes!

MRS. OBAMA: Was this not -- very cool. This was very cool, wasn't it?

AUDIENCE: Yes!

MRS. OBAMA: I mean, let's say thank you to everyone who helped organize this thing. Let's give them all a round of applause. (Applause.) It looks like it was so much fun.

But I want to start, first of all, by thanking Lisa for that very kind introduction. She's one of my heroes, I love her to death. Don't we love Lisa?

AUDIENCE: Yes!

MRS. OBAMA: She is so awesome. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I want her autograph.

MRS. OBAMA: We're going to get autographs. We'll get that done. We'll get that done. But we have to say thank you to a few more people. We have a couple of guests.

Mrs. Marjorie Susman, and Lady Susan Westmacott are here. They are the ambassadors for our great countries, and they're visiting us. (Applause.) They're here somewhere. There they are. There they are.

And of course, we have to thank all of our wonderful Olympic and Paralympic athletes who have joined us today who helped you guys out. Did you learn something from them?

AUDIENCE: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: All right, focus, because these people have put in some time and made some sacrifices, and they're great role models to all of you, right?

And I want to join in in also welcoming our very special guest, Mrs. Samantha Cameron -- we already said hello today, but Mrs. Cameron is here. She came here with her husband from the United Kingdom. Her husband is Prime Minister David Cameron. So he's the Prime Minister there, and they're here on an official visit.

And what we hope to do is just remember this special relationship our two countries have. They hosted us a little while ago. We had a wonderful time when the President and I got to visit London last year as guests of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, as well as the Camerons. So we are very pleased that they're both back here in Washington with us today. So this is a really special day.

So we are very excited to have her here with us today, and I'm particularly excited that the Camerons are visiting our country this week because, as it turns out, I will be visiting their country this summer. Because today, I'm pleased to announce that I will have the honor of leading the presidential delegation to the Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games in London this summer. (Applause.) And let me tell you, I am thrilled to do it. I wasn't sure whether they were going to let me do it, but I get to do it and I'm very excited. And I know that all of you are looking forward to the Games this summer, aren't you?

AUDIENCE: Yes!

MRS. OBAMA: I mean, this is why we're here today. Because the true spirit of the Games isn't confined to just the two weeks of competition in the summer. It's not just about who wins the Gold, right? You've heard that before. It's not just about who wins the medals, right?

AUDIENCE: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Or which country wins the most medals. That’s not what the Olympics are about. Instead, the Olympic Games are about commitment, right? It's about determination, and, most importantly, it's about teamwork -- teamwork, right?

The Games are about finding our inner strength. Do you know what I mean by inner strength? It's like, what's deep down inside that you want to do for yourself, right? And all of these athletes have done it by pushing ourselves to be the very best that we can at something that we feel deeply about, right? And that’s sports in this case, but that can be anything. But it's about digging down deep and finding the thing that makes you want to do more.

And just to give an example of some of the athletes we have here today, do you know that to prepare for the Olympic Games, Dominique Dawes -- Dominique, make sure they know who you are. Dominique, she was in the gym almost 40 hours a week practicing. I mean, can you imagine -- 40 hours a week? And that’s in addition to going to school, right? Getting her homework done, and anything else she had to do. She was in the gym. That’s how much dedication it takes.

And Lisa Leslie was out on the basketball court practicing every night, because she knew it wasn't just good enough to be tall, right? We like being tall, but that’s not enough. You've got to have some skills to go with that height, and you've got to practice, right?

And then there's Kortney Clemons, this guy right here. In 2005 -- listen to this, guys -- Kortney was serving our country as a combat medic in Iraq. He was fighting in the war when a bomb exploded nearby him, right? A bomb went off. And he was 24 years old at the time, and he had a very young daughter; he was the father of a little girl. But then he lost his leg. All of a sudden, his leg is gone.

Now, he didn’t let that stop him from reaching new goals, see? And that’s the beauty, right? He lost his leg and he thought, what more can I do with one leg? So he set a new goal for himself. So he's always been a pretty good athlete -- you can tell. He's got that athlete look in his eye. And so during his rehabilitation, he learned about the Paralympics, and he decided he wanted to participate.

At first, he tried weightlifting, because he wanted to get buff -- I'm sure he was trying to impress somebody, right? (Laughter.) But soon, he found out that he really enjoyed running. He really loved the wind in his face when he was moving fast. How many people feel that when they're moving fast? Yes, yes, there's nothing like moving fast. Well, that’s how he felt. So he kept working.

And less than two years after the explosion -- two years afterwards -- he became a national champion sprinter. Can you -- dang, yes. You want to say that again?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Dang!

MRS. OBAMA: He is the first Iraq veteran to qualify for the national Paralympic team. And he is an inspiration to people around the world. Do you understand that? Around the world. Let's give Kortney a round of applause. (Applause.)

I could go on, because everyone behind me has a similarly powerful story, okay? Everyone does. But these are the stories of triumph, of perseverance and sheer willpower that lie behind every Olympian and every Paralympian. And that’s why these Games are important, you guys.

So when you watch these Games -- and I hope you all do, right? There are a lot of lessons to learn -- not just who wins and loses. The stories behind these athletes should give us all reason to get up and move, right? And that’s what's so beautiful about these Games.

They don’t just allow us to marvel at the skills and the achievements of the world's greatest athletes. They help us all dream bigger, right? I mean, you can just imagine what you can do, right kids? These Games are about inspiring you guys to move.

And that’s what I want you all to do with Let's Move. You guys know Let's Move is about me ensuring that young people like you guys get up and get moving. And we want to use these Games as a way to jumpstart people into moving, right? And as Lisa said, moving isn't just being a part of a sport. Moving can be dancing in the living room, it can be riding your bike, it can be walking your dog.

But if all these athletes can do what they do, then surely you guys can get moving and help the people in your lives get moving, right? So that’s going to be one of our very important goals with the Olympic Games, is using this as a way for us to be inspired to be as healthy as we can all of the time. Do you think we can do that?

AUDIENCE: Yes!

MRS. OBAMA: So I'm going to need your help. You guys are going to get some medals, but I need you to be our ambassadors. Do you know what an ambassador is? I need you to send the word out to people in your lives and in your community about how important it is to stay active and healthy. Will you guys help?

AUDIENCE: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: All right. Well, if I have that promise, then I think we can get on with the next part of the ceremony, because I think we've got some medals to hand out, right?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yes!

MRS. OBAMA: Yes! (Applause.) Medals to hand out.

So with that, I'm going to turn it over to Kortney, who's going to help with the medal ceremony. Congratulations to you guys. We are so proud of you. Keep up the good work, okay? Give yourselves a round of applause.

END
5:06 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release

March 13, 2012

First Lady Michelle Obama To Lead Presidential Delegation to Opening Ceremonies of 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London

Mrs. Obama says that the games will serve as an inspiration to get more kids active and healthy

Washington – First Lady Michelle Obama will lead the Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. Mrs. Obama made the announcement at an event with Mrs. Samantha Cameron celebrating the Olympic Games and Mrs. Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative. At the event, Olympians and Paralympians including Kortney Clemons, Dominique Dawes, Tom Dolan, April Holmes, Lisa Leslie, Lori Ann Lindsey, Dan O’Brien, Becky Sauerbrunn, David Wagner and Mal Washington led DC-area school children in activities inspired by the Olympic Games. Mrs. Obama emphasized her hope that the Olympic Games will inspire more young people to get active and healthy, the goal of her Let’s Move! initiative.

“In the months ahead, I’ll be talking to Americans all across the country to encourage even more young people to tap into that Olympic spirit and turn their inspiration into action,” said Mrs. Obama. “As the Olympic creed states, ‘the most important thing … is not to win, but to take part.’ And that doesn’t just mean sitting and watching, it means getting up and getting active as well. I hope we use the upcoming games as motivation for all of us to get up and get moving. This is especially true for our young people. You don’t have to be a gold medal winner or the best athlete at your school to take part. You don’t even have to play an organized sport. You can dance in the living room, ride your bike around the neighborhood, or go for a walk with your friends. Everyone can find some way to be healthy, get active, and have some fun.”

“Olympians are ambassadors of their country so it is only fitting that our nation’s leaders show support for the Games. Mrs. Obama’s support will only further invigorate the athletes’ desire to bring home the gold and motivate all Americans to be active,” said Dominique Dawes, three-time Olympic gymnast and co-chair of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition, who emceed today’s event. “Today my work on behalf of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition is a way for me to give back to the country that supported me during my Olympic journey.”

It is traditional for a delegation to travel to the Olympic Games to represent the United States. In the coming months, the White House will announce the official delegates accompanying Mrs. Obama to London. Other First Ladies that have led a Presidential Delegation to the Olympic Games include First Lady Laura Bush to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy and then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton to the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release

March 12, 2012

First Lady Michelle Obama to Meet with Minnesota Military Families and Community Leaders

Friday, March 16th 3:30 PM: As part of her Joining Forces initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama will travel to Minnesota on Friday to meet with National Guard families and local community leaders who are dedicated to supporting military families. Last month, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Jill Biden announced 20 finalists as part of their Joining Forces Community Challenge, an effort to recognize and celebrate citizens, communities, and organizations that have demonstrated a deep commitment to service by improving the lives of military families and veterans. In a roundtable discussion about Minnesota’s best practices that can be replicated nationally, Mrs. Obama will join military family members, representatives from Serving Our Troops, and three Joining Forces Community Challenge finalists from Minnesota – the Armed Forces Service Center, Defending the Blue Line and GreenCare for Troops. Below are descriptions of these military family support organizations.

Prior to this roundtable discussion, Mrs. Obama will arrive to the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport where she will be greeted by military families, as well as kids who participate in the Defending the Blue Line program.

Members of the media interested in covering Mrs. Obama’s open press arrival and open press roundtable discussion must RSVP to FirstLadyPress@who.eop.gov by Wednesday, March 14th at 5:00 PM Eastern.

After concluding the roundtable discussion, the First Lady will deliver remarks at a Democratic National Committee event at 5:00 PM in Minneapolis covered by a print pooler.

Information on military family support organizations
The Armed Forces Service Center is a 24-7 “all free” lounge staffed by volunteers at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport that serves active-duty military personnel, their dependents, activated reservists and national guardsmen, as well as other members of the uniformed services. Maggie Purdum, a mother whose son was killed in action in Vietnam created the Center in 1970 in an effort to appreciate those who have served this country.

Defending the Blue Line works to ensure that children of military members can play hockey by offering them free equipment and financial assistance as well as access to hockey camps and special events. Founded by two Minnesota National Guard members in 2009, the organization has donated more than $500,000 to benefit military families across the United States.

GreenCare for Troops was established by a wounded warrior who after surviving an almost deadly attack pledged to dedicate his life to improving the lives of veterans. This project was created to provide free lawn and landscape services for military families nationwide. The nationwide program is coordinated by Project EverGreen that connects local green industry professionals with military families.

Serving Our Troops was formed by a group of community and business leaders who create an active appreciation for soldiers serving abroad and their families at home. Since 2004, Serving Our Troops has brought together families and soldiers for a special dinner event that is connected via live international video.

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release

March 09, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady at a Campaign Event

Boston, Massachusetts

6:05 P.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you all so much. (Applause.) Oh, my goodness. All right, you guys are fired up, right? My work here is done tonight. No, just kidding. (Laughter.) You all, please, rest yourselves. Thank you so much. It is truly a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you.

I’ve got so many -- so much of my history here. We’ve got -- I’ve got former mentees, I’ve got former staff. We got former White House staff, classmates. This has just been just a wonderful reunion in so many ways. But I want to start by thanking Barbara for that very kind introduction and for the outstanding work that she is doing every day to empower women all across this country. Let’s give her a round of applause. (Applause.) She’s amazing.

And I am thrilled to be in this magnificent museum. I am so glad that we’re doing this here. Contemporary art is something that we care passionately about, so it’s wonderful to be able to be in this magnificent space, although I will only see the kitchen -- (laughter) -- and the service entrance. But I’ve heard it’s a really pretty building. (Laughter.)

I also want to recognize the extraordinary women that you all heard from earlier today -- Nancy, Stephanie, Jessica, Paula, Liz -- you guys, thank you so much for being with us this evening. (Applause.) I hear they had a lot of good things to say. (Laughter.) It’s good stuff.

And of course, I want to give a big shout out to Marianne Karmel and all of our host committee for their wonderful work in making this evening such a terrific success. (Applause.) And finally, I want to thank all of you, truly -- thank you for your support. Thank you for being here with us this evening. It means so much.

And I know that there is a reason why you are all here -- and it’s not just to see me. (Laughter.) You can see me on Ellen. (Laughter.) But you’re here because you know that we stand at a fundamental crossroads for our country. You’re here because you know that in less than a year from now -- and the clock is ticking -- we are going to make a choice that will impact our lives for decades to come.

And I know that you are here because you know that choice will not just affect all of us, but it’s going to affect our children, our grandchildren, for some of us, our great grandchildren, and the world we leave for them long after we’re gone.

And that is truly why I am here today. And I’m going to be out there all over the country as much as I can. I’m in this for our children, for our future.

As First Lady, I have had the privilege of traveling all across this magnificent country, and I get to meet folks from all different backgrounds and all walks of life, hearing what’s going on in their daily lives. And every day, I hear about how people are trying to keep it all together. I hear about their struggles -- the bills they’re trying to pay, the businesses they’re trying to keep afloat. I hear about how they’re taking that extra shift, how they’re working the extra job, how so many people are saving and sacrificing, rarely spending a dime on themselves because they desperately want something better for their kids.

And, truly, make no mistake about it, I mean, these struggles are not new. For decades now, middle-class folks have been squeezed from all sides. The cost of things like gas, groceries, tuition have continued to rise, but people’s paychecks just haven’t kept up. So when this economic crisis hit, for far too many families, the bottom just completely fell out.

Now, let’s be clear -- over the past three years, your President has worked very hard to dig us out of this mess. Yes. (Applause.) And we have made some very important progress. Now, you may remember that when my husband first took office, this economy was losing an average of more than 750,000 jobs a month -- that’s when he took office. Well, today we learn that we’ve now had 24 straight months of private sector job growth. (Applause.) So, for -- just in case we all got our math right, that’s two years. (Laughter.) Two straight years we’ve been adding private sector jobs -- a total of more than 3.9 million jobs. So I am proud of everything my husband has done to get our economy moving in the right direction and I know that you all are too. We’re proud of everything he has done to get this economy back on track. But we also know that we still have a long way to go.

We still have a long way to go in rebuilding our economy on a vision that we all share -– the belief, as my husband says, that hard work should pay off; that responsibility should be rewarded; and that everyone in this country should get a fair shot, they should do their fair share, they should play by the same rules.

Truly, those are all the foundation for an economy that’s built to last. They are our basic American values -- the values that so many of us were raised on, including myself. You guys know my story by now. My father was a blue-collar worker at the city water plant; my family lived in a little bitty apartment on the South Side of Chicago. Neither of my parents went to college, but let me tell you what they did do: they worked, they saved, they sacrificed everything so that me and my brother could have more than they could have ever imagined.

And more than anything else, that is what’s at stake in this election -- that fundamental promise that no matter who you are or how you started out, if you work hard, you can build a decent life for yourself and yes, an even better life for your kids.

And on just about every single issue -– from health care to education to the economy -– that is the choice we face. That’s the choice.

For example, let’s just talk about tax cuts for middle-class folks. When you hear all that the President is saying about those tax cuts or unemployment insurance for folks out of work, well, you hear that -- that’s about whether people will be able heat their homes; that’s about whether they’ll be able to put gas in their car so that they can even look for a job. It’s about whether folks can send their kids to college, whether they can retire with a little dignity and security. And it’s about whether people will have more money in their pockets, which means more money in our economy, which means more jobs. But that’s what’s at stake.

And when it comes to jobs, I want you to think back to when all those folks in Washington were telling Barack to let the auto industry go under, with more than a million jobs on the line. But Barack had the backs of American workers. He put his faith in the American people. (Applause.) And thankfully today, the auto industry is back on its feet, and more importantly, people are back at work, back to providing for their families. But that is what’s at stake. That’s the choice that we face.

And think for just a minute about what this administration has done to stand up for the American consumer. I’m talking about families getting hit with all those hidden credit card fees. I am talking about students -- our students -- drowning in all that debt, seniors -- our parents, grandparents -- losing their homes and their savings because they were tricked into loans they couldn’t afford, probably couldn’t understand.

And that is why my husband created a new consumer watchdog with one simple mission -– and that is to protect folks from exactly those kinds of abuses. Because when you’ve worked hard and you saved and you followed the rules, you shouldn’t lose it all to someone just looking to make some easy money. So your President knows that that is not fair. He knows that’s not right, and he is working to do something about it. That’s what’s at stake. (Applause.)

And what about all that we’ve done together for our small businesses? These are the companies that create two-thirds of all new jobs each year in this economy. It’s two-thirds of all jobs. I’m talking about the mom who opens up the dry cleaning shop on the corner to provide for her kids. That’s who we’re talking about. We’re talking about the family that’s been running that neighborhood diner for generations. Or the veteran who started that startup and trying to pursue the American Dream that he fought so hard for. That’s who we’re talking about.

These are the folks who work themselves to the bone during the day, and then they head home and pore over the books late into the night, determined to make the numbers add up.

Now, for these folks, the small business tax cuts this administration has passed, for them, this means the difference between hiring new employees or handing out pink slips, between keeping their doors open or closing up shop for good. That’s the choice that we face. Those are the stakes.

And how about, as Barbara said, the very first bill my husband signed into law -- the very first thing he did as President -- the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to make sure that women get equal pay for equal work? (Applause.) And he did this because he knows what it means when women aren’t treated fairly in the workplace. He watched his own grandmother -– a woman with a high school education -– who worked her way up to become the vice president of a little community bank. And he saw how hard she worked and how good she was at her job. But like too many women, she hit that glass ceiling, and watched men no more qualified than she was –- men she had actually trained –- climb that corporate ladder ahead of her. So believe me, for Barack, this issue is not abstract. This is not hypothetical.

He signed this bill because he knows that closing that pay gap can mean the difference between women losing $50, $100, $500 from each paycheck, or having that money in their pockets to buy gas and put school clothes on the backs of their kids, to feed their kids. He did it because when nearly two-thirds of women are breadwinners or co-breadwinners, he knows that women’s success in this economy is the key to families’ success in this economy. (Applause.) That he knows.

And he did it because, as he put it, we believe that here in America there are no second-class citizens in our workplace. But that is what’s at stake. We have to understand that. Those are the choices that we face.

And let’s just talk for a minute about health care. Because last year, we made history together by finally passing health reform. Finally passing health reform. (Applause.) But now there are folks actually talking about repealing that reform. So today, ladies, we have to ask -- and gentlemen, because I know we got a few men -- (laughter) -- we have to ask ourselves, are we going to stand by and just let that happen?

Since we passed this law, millions of our seniors have saved an average of more than $600 a year on their prescription drugs. So are we going to take those savings away from our seniors? Or will we make sure that our parents and our grandparents can afford to stay healthy in their golden years? What are we going to do? Are we going to go back to the days when insurance companies could deny our children coverage because they have pre-existing conditions -- things like cancer, diabetes, asthma? Or will we stand up and say that in this country, no one should ever have to choose between going bankrupt or watching their child suffer because they can’t afford a doctor? What are we going to do? (Applause.)

And when those beautiful children grow up and they graduate from school, we know how hard it is for them to find jobs with insurance, right? How many young people in here struggling with that? Yes. That is why, as part of health reform, kids can now stay on their parent’s insurance until they’re 26 years old. And today, that is how 2.5 million of our young people are getting their coverage. So are we going to take that insurance away from our kids? Or will we say that we don’t want our sons and daughters going without health care when they’re just starting out, trying to build families and careers of their own? But that’s the choice we face. Those are the stakes.

And think, for a moment, about what has been done on education. (Applause.) Think about all the investments to raise standards and reform our public schools. I mean, this is about improving the circumstances for millions of our children. These are our children in this country -- kids we know that are sitting in crumbling classrooms today. Kids with so much promise. Kids who could be anything they wanted if we just gave them the chance.

And think about what my husband has been fighting for with the DREAM Act -- (applause) -- so that talented, hardworking young people who were brought to this country through no fault of their own, so they can have a chance at citizenship. These are responsible young men and women who want to go to college, defend their country, contribute to this economy -- and it's time that we gave them a chance. It is time. (Applause.)

Think about how we’ve tripled investments for job training at community college. This is about hundreds of thousands of hardworking folks who are determined to do what it takes to get the skills they need for a better job and better wages. They’re doing everything we could ask of them. They’re working full-time. They’re raising their kids. But they still make it to class every evening, study late into the night, because they desperately want something better for their families.

And make no mistake about it, this investment in our students and in our workers will determine nothing less than the future of this economy. It will determine whether we’re prepared to make the discoveries and to build the industries that will allow us to compete with any country anywhere in the world. That’s what’s at stake. (Applause.)

And let’s not forget what it meant when my husband appointed those two brilliant Supreme Court justices -- (applause) -- and for the first time in history, our daughters and sons watched three women take their seats on our nation’s highest court. (Applause.) But more importantly, let us not forget the impact their decisions will have on our lives for decades to come -– on our privacy and security, on whether we can speak freely, worship openly, and love whomever we choose. That is what’s at stake. Those are the choices. (Applause.)

And finally, let us not forget all this administration has done to keep our country safe and restore our standing in the world. (Applause.) Thanks to our brave men and women in uniform, we finally brought to justice the man behind the 9/11 attacks and so many other horrific acts of terror. (Applause.)

My husband ended the war in Iraq. He kept his promise -- brought our troops home for the holidays. (Applause.) And we’re working to give our veterans and their families the education, the employment and benefits they’ve earned. (Applause.) And of course, because my husband finally ended "don’t ask, don’t tell," our troops will never again have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love. (Applause.) That’s what’s at stake. (Applause.)

So make no mistake about it, whether it’s health care, the economy, whether it’s education or foreign policy, the choice we make will determine nothing less than who we are as a country -– but more importantly, who do we want to be. Who do we want to be?

Will we be the country where opportunity is limited to just a few at the top?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Coughs.)

MRS. OBAMA: It makes you sick, doesn’t it? (Laughter.) I know.

Or will we be a place where if you work hard, you can get ahead, no matter who you are or how you started out? Right? Who are we? (Applause.) Will we tell folks who’ve done everything right, but are struggling just a little bit, are we going to tell those folks, “tough luck, you’re on your own”? Who are we? Or will we honor that fundamental American belief that in this country, we are strongest when we’re all better off? Who do we want to be? That’s what we have to ask ourselves. Will we continue all the change we’ve begun, all the progress we’ve made, or are we going to just let it all slip away -- everything we’ve fought for? Who are we? But that is the choice we face. Those are the stakes. That is it. I am not exaggerating.

But believe me, your President, Barack Obama, knows this all too well. He understands these issues because he’s lived them. He was raised by a single mother who struggled to put herself through school and pay the bills. And when she needed help, who stepped up? His grandmother -- waking up every morning to take that bus before dawn to that job at the bank. And even though she was passed over for all those promotions, she never complained. Like so many people we know in our lives, she just kept getting up, just kept moving forward, doing her best. That’s who we are.

So Barack knows what it means when a family struggles. Believe me. He knows what it means when someone doesn’t have the chance to fulfill their potential. These are the experiences that have made him the man, and more importantly, the President that he is today. And we are blessed to have him. (Applause.)

And I share this with everyone -- that is what I hear in his voice when he returns home after a long day in the Oval Office or traveling around the country. He tells me about the people he’s met. That’s what I see in those quiet moments late at night, long after the girls have gone to bed, and he’s still up, poring over briefings and the letters he receives from people everywhere. The letter from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won’t cover her care. The letter from the father struggling to pay his family’s bills. The letters from far too many young people with so much promise, but so few opportunities.

And I hear the passion and the determination in his voice. He says, “You won’t believe what folks are going through.” He tells me, “Michelle, this is not right. We have got to fix this. We have so much more work to do.”

See, what you need to know about your President is that when it comes to the people he meets, he has a memory like a steel trap. (Laughter.) It gets a little annoying at times. (Laughter.) He might not remember your name, but if he’s had a few minutes and a decent conversation with you, he will never forget your story. It becomes imprinted in his heart. And that is what he carries with him -– our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams. That is where Barack Obama gets his passion. That’s where he gets his toughness and his fight.

And that’s why, even in the hardest moments, when it seems like all is lost, Barack Obama never loses sight of the end goal. He never lets himself get distracted by all the chatter and the noise. Like his grandmother, he just keeps moving forward. See, because your President has a vision for this country, so you have to have a vision if you're going to lead America -- and it is a vision that we all share. I don't care who you are, we share this vision. This is what we all want for our country.

But I have said this before, and I will say it again -- I will keep saying it: He cannot do this alone. That was never the promise. That was never the promise. He needs your help. This has never been about him. He needs your help. He needs you to register those voters. He needs you to make those phone calls. He needs you to take those "I’m In" cards and sign them, and get your friends and your neighbors and your colleagues to sign them. Convince them to join in this effort; that giving just a little part of themselves each week to this campaign will make a world of difference. Let them know what's at stake.

Because we all know that this was never about one extraordinary man -- this was never about Barack Obama. This has always been about us. It’s always been about us -- all of us -- coming together for the values that we believe in and the country that we want to be. And for something like that, you've got to work for it. You got to work for it.

Now, I’m not going to kid you, I know this all too well -- this journey is going to be long and it is going to be hard. And there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way. We are used to that. But the truth is, that is how change always happens in this country. I mean, the truth is real change is slow. Real change never happens all at once.

But if we keep showing up, and fighting the good fight, and doing what we know is right, then we eventually get there. We always do. That has been the history of this country. We always get there. Maybe not in our lifetimes; maybe in our children’s lifetimes; maybe in our grandchildren’s lifetimes. Because in the end, that’s what this is all about. In the end, we are not fighting these battles for ourselves. We are fighting them for our sons and daughters, for our grandsons and our granddaughters. We are fighting for the world we want to leave for them -- just like so many people did for us.

And believe me, I am not fighting this battle just as a mother who wants to leave a legacy for my girls. I’m in this as a citizen who knows what we can do together to change this country for the better. We're already seeing it. Because the truth is, no matter what happens, my girls will be fine. My girls are blessed. I tell them that all the time. (Laughter.) I say, get that look off your face, you're blessed. (Laughter.) They have plenty of advantages and opportunities in their lives. And that is probably true for so many of the young people in this room.

But I think the last few years have shown us the truth of what Barack has always said -- that if any child in this country is left behind, then that matters to all of us, even if he is not our son, even if she is not our daughter. If any family in this country struggles, then we cannot be fully content with our own family’s good fortune. Because that's not who we are. In the end, we cannot separate our own story from the broader American story. Because we know that in this country, we rise and we fall together. And that's a good thing. That's the beauty of America.

And we know that if we make the right choices, and if we have the right priorities, we can ensure that everyone gets a fair shake and everyone has a chance to get ahead. But that's what’s at stake. Those are the choices.

But we have some say in this. We have a chance to move and impact our destiny. So it’s time for us to get moving. It’s time for us to get to work. It's time for us to answer one last question. I mean, my question for you is: Are you in? Are you ready to do this work? (Applause.) I mean, I can't really hear you. I don't know if you really feel it. (Applause.) Because it is going to take work. And we are going to need all of you in.

Because I know I am in. I know the future I want. I know the kind of country I want to hand over to my kids. And I know it's going to take all of us working together. So we are going to need you all fired up. We're going to need you serious. If you've got it all together in this state, go to the next state and get it together. (Laughter.) There is a lot at stake, and we don't have time to waste. So we're going to need you every step of the way.

And believe me, I will be out there, my husband will be out there. There is a wonderful story to tell of what this President has done for this country, and we need to make sure everybody knows it. (Applause.)

Thank you all, and God bless. (Applause.)

END
6:34 P.M. EST

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release

March 09, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady at Let's Move! Event

Penacook Community College
Penacook, New Hampshire

3:45 P.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you, everyone. (Applause.) Thanks so much. Rest yourselves, because you’ve been working hard to make this community healthy. You deserve a little sitting down. Even as we talk about Let’s Move you can rest. (Laughter.)

It is so wonderful to be here. And I want to start by thanking Dr. Lynch, not just for that kind introduction, but for all of the wonderful work, the leadership, the expertise that she is bringing to this state. Just listening to her talk backstage, it is such an advantage to have someone so knowledgeable and aware of these issues at the front lines.

You have a First Lady that understands that health, good health, is the kind of prevention that can change lives, that can change the whole status of communities. And one of the reasons why we’re here is that New Hampshire is a model -- the entire state -- for what we want to see happening all across this country. So please, let’s give another round of applause to your First Lady. (Applause.) Great work. And she could not do what she does without leadership on the ground.

Mayor Jim Bouley, thank you so much for being here, for the work that you’re doing. It’s tremendous. And I also have to thank Deb Cuddahy, as well. We had some fun times together. I got blue yogurt on my pants. (Laughter.) A little dirt on my knees. But the kids are amazing. Thank you and your entire staff for hosting us here today.

I have to point out that all of these decorations were done by the kids from the center. Correct? Amazing. They are just incredible. We had apples and White House honey and yogurt. (Laughter.) We answered a couple of questions. Someone wanted to know if the President was still alive. (Laughter.) I assured him -- (laughter) -- I assured the young man that he was in fact alive and well. (Laughter.) I love kids. I mean, we could have talked -- Susan and I, we could have spent the entire afternoon with them. They are adorable and they are enthusiastic. They are embracing these concepts. We were working on developing MyPlates and they were picking out their proteins and their vegetables -- and they were eating them. (Laughter.) I know, parents, they were eating them -- (laughter) -- the White House honey, yogurt, apples, bananas. It was just wonderful. So, Deb, thank you. Thank you to the whole team here.

And of course, I want to thank everybody who has taken the time to be here. You all are here for a very important reason. Everything that you just heard from Mayor Bouley, everything that Dr. Lynch is working on, and everything that I’ve seen here at Penacook Community Center all are perfect examples of what we’re trying to accomplish with Let's Move. We want to show what can happen when communities come together and take action on behalf of our children’s health -- because, really, that’s the bottom line. We all care about our kids -- every one of us. Regardless of where you live or what you do, we care about our kids, and we want them to be the healthiest that they can possibly be.

Two years ago, when we started Let's Move, we wanted to end our epidemic of childhood obesity in a generation so that kids growing up today would develop different habits and they would grow up healthier, and they would grow up with the tools and the information they need -- would need to make good choices. And when we set this goal we knew it was ambitious. And we knew that we could only reach that goal is if, as Dr. Lynch said, everyone put something on the table, if everyone got involved -- everyone from elected officials, like folks here today, to community centers like this one, to moms and dads and community leaders like all of you. We all needed to play a role in getting our kids on track.

And that is why it is so inspiring for me to be here today, because all of you are leading the way in so many -- at so many levels. You’ve got a First Lady and a Governor, fortunately, who are working to get people across this state up and walking, taking an active leadership role on this issue, getting the whole state involved, making it a priority from the very top, which is critical. You’ve pulled together folks from all across this community to help make Concord a healthier place to live -- the capital of this state. It’s an important leadership point to have the capital taking the lead.

You all are doing wonderful things, like building bike lanes, starting up farmers’ markets, which is critical. And right here in Penacook Community Center, you’ve started a garden, I understand. It's a little too chilly to be out there, but I'm taking your word for it that it's good stuff. (Laughter.) The garden to encourage the kids to try new fruits and vegetables and to teach them about where food comes from, as part of what you figure out. Because we had a whole conversation about honey. (Laughter.)

Now, the staff, you guys have work to do, right? Because now they want to know how to -- what do you do to put the bees to sleep, how do you get the honey. (Laughter.) A few of them tried a little more of the honey because I think they were wondering how the guy in the hat got the honey without getting stung. (Laughter.) So there's work to be done. But we left you a lot of honey to help illustrate. So the educational piece in getting kids in there, sleeves rolled up, is critical.

You’re helping kids exercise before and after school with all sorts of activities. We also did the Bunny Hop. (Laughter.) I'm sure that will make the news. (Laughter.) It was something like this, and wiggling your tail in and out. Yes, I did it. (Laughter.) But it was fun. I worked up a little sweat. Probably should have taken my jacket off.

You’re working with parents so that the healthy habits that kids are learning in places like this carry over into life at home. And of course, I cannot forget to mention that you all also were part of history. You helped me and thousands of others break a world record for the number of people doing jumping jacks in a 24-hour period. We are now in the Guinness Book of World Records. And I understand you guys were a part of that. (Applause.) Yes, indeed. So we're teaching kids that this exercise and good eating stuff can be fun. And that's really the point. It is truly putting play back into the lives of our children, and that's a good thing. And you all are doing so many wonderful things.

You’re demonstrating exactly how Let's Move can work on the ground -- taking that theory, that big national concept coming out of the White House, putting it to work right here in communities. So we want to do everything we can to support leaders like you. And again, that's why I'm here. I mean, one of the things that I have is a big spotlight. Cameras seem to show up. (Laughter.) Hey, guys. It's nice to see you. (Laughter.) But we get to shine a light on wonderful things that are going on, on the ground, which is really where change is going to happen.

And that’s why we are trying to help, and we've tried to start other initiatives connected with Let’s Move. We started Let's Move Child Care to provide helpful tips on how to give children a healthy start right from the very beginning. Because many of our kids are getting a lot of nutrition; they're learning their first habits when they go to preschool. And we’ve created a checklist, a very simple checklist with steps that child care providers can take to help their kids eat well and stay active.

We've also developed Let’s Move Cities and Towns to give communities the tools they can use to help develop strategies that make sense for them -- because that's one thing we know, that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this. Communities have to develop the things that work and make sense for them. And Let's Move Cities and Towns just gives some ideas and gives a little jumpstart to some efforts on the ground.

And we’re working with mayors all across the country who are refurbishing parks and playgrounds, which is critical, because many communities don't have access to those basic things and we need to support them in those efforts. They're hosting fun things like cooking and nutrition classes, which are critical; starting up childhood obesity task forces, which help create some unity and coalition around this issue, and so much more.

We’ve also encouraged schools across the country to take part in the HealthierUS School Challenge, through which schools make commitments to serve healthy food and keep their kids active. And we're trying to encourage more schools to become USHealthier schools. And there are many standards. We're shining a light on those that reach the gold standard, which means that they are ahead of the curve in terms of bringing in nutritious foods and incorporating nutrition education. We've seen those numbers doubled in the time that we started Let's Move. So that's been a wonderful thing to watch.

And we’re very excited to team up with leaders like all of you in the efforts that you're doing as well. So as of today, the Penacook Community Center is joining Let’s Move Child Care. Yay. Way to go. (Applause.) But I can tell from the short time I've been here, you guys have been doing the right things already. So we welcome you into the fold and we want you to share those ideas with other centers across the country who are just starting to develop these ideas. So, again, you are a role model.

But also, the city of Concord is becoming the second city in New Hampshire to join Let’s Move Cities and Towns. Yay. (Applause.) And again, that is a huge commitment from the top. Really creating that leadership and setting the tone from the Mayor is an amazing boost to a community already looking to do the hard work. So we commend you.

And the New Hampshire Department of Education will be leading a statewide effort with the goal of signing up 30 new schools for the HealthierUS School Challenge by the end of 2013, and doubling that number by the end of 2015. So we want to help the schools in New Hampshire reach that goal and create as many rewards and incentives for schools to think about ways to make the environment even more healthy for their kids. So we are incredibly proud of everything that’s going on here.

And we hope that these programs can help you find even more ways to make a difference for your community and for your state. And I also want to emphasize that you all are not alone in these efforts. I mean, that’s a part of Let’s Move, too -- it can’t just happen on the ground, because kids and families are influenced by so many other aspects of society that we’re trying to use this big umbrella to make some really bigger changes. And we’ve seen some of that going on every day.

For example, Congress has passed groundbreaking child nutrition legislation to help all of our schools in this country be healthier, and its changes in school meals that have -- hasn’t happened for decades. So now, beginning in the fall, school lunches -- the standards are being raised in ways that will impact schools all across the country.

The food and beverage industry is working to get healthier foods with less sugar, salt, and fat into supermarkets so that parents have healthier options when they go grocery shopping. There’s nothing more frustrating than wanting to do the right thing and then you get to the aisle and you don’t have the choices that you want. So the food and beverage industries are stepping up.

Restaurant chains are offering healthier items on their kids’ menus because we know that many parents are too busy to cook every night, and a lot of times, eating out is the best -- and sometimes only -- way to get a meal in our kids. But we’ve got some of the largest chains like the Olive Garden and Red Lobster that are creating and updating their kids’ menus so that the healthier choice becomes the easy choice. It’s one of the largest restaurant chains in the world that are stepping up, on their own, to make it easier for parents who walk in those restaurants to have an option for their kids so eating out is not a fight, right? We all applaud that, right? (Laughter.)

But every day, people across this country are coming together on behalf of our children. And it feels good. It feels good to know that when you identify a problem that’s affecting our kids, that so many people -- even when it doesn’t help their bottom line -- step up in ways big and small. That’s why I started out by saying we all care about our kids. We just need a little guidance and direction to figure out how do we tackle these problems.

But it warms my heart to know that we will step up for our kids. And I am reminded of why this kind of stuff is important. If you listen to a young girl, Caitlin Habel, she is seven years old and she comes here, right? She’s here. Well, this is one of her quotes. She says, "I like being able to play games before school because it’s really fun and it helps me wake up my heart."

See there -- and that’s what we have to remember. That’s what this is really about. Kids will take this and run with it. We all know that about kids. You give them a little information and they’ll take you down a road -- they’ll have you eating right and criticizing you when you do something wrong. (Laughter.) It’s a good thing. They want to learn. They want to do the right thing.

And they also learn that vegetables can actually taste good. We’re still working on convincing them of that, so you guys have to agree and be like, yes, yes, vegetables are good. They need to know that running around with their friends can make you feel better -- that it’s fun but it’s also good for your heart.

And when kids learn these kind of lessons, the important thing is, is that it stays with them, and that they’ll have this information that they can pass on to their kids and to their kids. So with these efforts, please know that you’re just not changing this generation -- the circumstances for this generation of children -- you’re changing the circumstances for generations to come. And that’s the power of just a little bit of togetherness -- what it can do.

So I am so very impressed and proud. And I hope that other states look here for a model of what can be done when people take ahold of a problem, come together and create solutions that make sense.

So I look forward to working with you all in the months and years ahead -- seeing your kids grow up, answering their crazy questions. They’re all so good. They’re all so smart. And they deserve all of this attention and focus that we give them. So congratulations and God bless you all. Take care. (Applause.)

END
4:01 P.M. EST

First Lady Michelle Obama Honors International Women of Courage

March 08, 2012 | 56:26 | Public Domain

The First Lady delivers remarks at the International Women of Courage Award Ceremony on International Women's Day.

Download mp4 (539MB) | mp3 (52MB)

Read the Transcript

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