Remarks by the First Lady at the President's Council on Arts and Humanities Youth Event

East Room

2:33 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you all, so much.

Hello and welcome to the White House.  (Laughter.)  I am, as always, so thrilled to have all of you join us here today -- one of our favorite events, just all around.  We are so excited.

I want to start by thanking the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities for sponsoring these awards.  And I'd like to ask all of the committee members here today to stand up so that we can honor them for their service.  Please stand.  (Applause.)  Thank you, so much.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge Representative Jim McDermott.  I’m not sure if he’s here today because there are votes happening, but if he is I want to thank him for his service and for all the work that he’s done.

And, finally, I want to recognize all of the artists, the educators, and administrators who are on the ground everyday running the programs that we’re honoring today.  Every day you all are providing unparalleled opportunities for our young people to explore every facet of the arts -- from dance and theater, to writing and music, to history and the visual arts. 

In so doing, you’re not just teaching these young people about painting or acting or singing, you’re teaching them about hard work and discipline and teamwork.  You’re teaching them how to manage their time -- something that we all need to learn -- (laughter) -- how to set goals, and, more importantly, how to achieve those goals.

And you all have seen firsthand how these skills translate to every part of their lives.  You’ve seen them realize that if they can compose a song or a poem, then maybe they can write that term paper -- (laughter) -- or finish that math homework, too.  We were just having this conversation at home last night at dinner.  (Laughter.)  If they can deliver a monologue up on stage with all the grandeur that goes along with what you do, then maybe they can make a presentation in front of the classroom on something not so dramatic.

If they can conduct a quartet or direct a play, then maybe they can lead a student group.  Maybe they can, one day, run a business or a city or a state or maybe even the United States of America, right?  That’s right.  (Applause.)

And all of you working so hard with these young people are not just helping them use the arts to lift themselves; you’re showing them how they can lift their communities, as well, and that’s so important. 

Because of your programs, because of the work that you’re doing, there are students all over this country who are doing great things -- students in Denver, Colorado, who wrote a play about teenage homelessness.  There are students in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who designed a mural to brighten a struggling neighborhood. 

And through this year’s international honoree program, Youth Community Media Project, students in Indonesia created their own videos to raise awareness around issues like poverty, women’s rights, and the effects of natural disasters.

Every day, with every lesson you teach, you remind our young people that their story is part of the broader American story, and you show them how they, as artists, can challenge our assumptions and help us view our world in new and very unexpected ways.  That is precisely what we are trying to do here at the White House, as well. 

Over the past few years we’ve worked to make this place a showcase for our country’s rich cultural life, and to throw open our doors to as many young people as possible.  We’ve hosted students at concerts and workshops on everything from jazz to spoken-word poetry to modern dance.  We’ve done it because we want them to know that they can be part of our arts community; that this community is for them.  We say that every year.  You own the space; it is yours.  And we want to support your efforts to show them that if they work hard, and if they believed in themselves, then anything is possible.  Anything.

Now, I know that what many of you do in these programs and projects -- it’s not easy, particularly in these difficult economic times.  I know that in this era of belt-tightening and budget cuts, all of you are working harder than ever before just to hold things together.  But month after month, and year after year, in spite of all the challenges, you all keep going, because you know that, for so many of our young people, the arts are not an extra.  You know that the arts are not a luxury; rather, it’s a lifeline.  It is a lifeline for so many of these kids. 

And you know that for every young life you transform, there is a tremendous ripple effect.  It happens when that child goes on to mentor and inspire other young people, which many of them do.  It happens when a community is lifted by their service.  It happens when our economy benefits from their skills and hard work.  It happens when our nation and our world are graced by the works of art they go on to create.

So make no mistake about it.  All of you working on these programs, you are impact multipliers.  You are inspiration multipliers.  And that is the power that you have, that you hold.  And it is a truly precious power.  And, today, I want to honor you all.  I want to congratulate you.  I want to thank you for everything you do for our kids and for our country.  You all are amazing.  And you should give yourselves a round of applause.  (Applause.)  Thank you.

And with that, it is my pleasure to introduce Margo Lion, Co-Chair of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, who will now say a few words.

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

END
2:40 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady at a DNC Event, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Signature Grand
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

7:13 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes!  We are fired up!  (Applause.)  Oh, my goodness.  This has been a great day.  (Applause.)  Thank you all so much.  Rest yourselves, because we got a lot of work to do.  I don’t want you to use all your energy.  (Laughter.) 

I am just thrilled –- this has been a great day.  This is my third city in one day.  (Applause.)  And I go home tonight and Barack and I get up and go to parent-teacher conference tomorrow morning.  (Applause.)  Just so you know.  Just handling our business.

But I am thrilled to be here.  It is such a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you beautiful people, our supporters.  You guys have just been amazing.

I want to start by thanking Debbie for that very kind introduction, but more importantly -- (applause) -- yes -- for her outstanding work in Congress and her outstanding leadership as Chairwoman of the DNC.  She is amazing.  (Applause.)  And she has a brilliant family, too, they’re in the back.  She almost didn’t come out because we were swapping stories about daughters in high heels.  (Laughter.)  I love you to death, Debbie.  Thank you, firing it up.

I also want to recognize Mayor Judy Paul, who is here, and thank her for her service and for being here tonight.  (Applause.)  And I have to thank my dear friend Deborah Cox for her wonderful performance.  She is amazing, I love her to death.  (Applause.)  As well as my dear friend Mark Gilbert and Tracy Mourning.  You guys are amazing.  You pulled together another wonderful event -- our co-hosts for this evening.  I love you both.  You guys are just tremendous, always having our backs.  You did it again.

And finally, I want to thank all of you for taking time out of your busy days to come here this evening.  And I know there’s a reason why you are all here tonight, and it wasn’t just because of the good food.  (Laughter.)  You’re here because you know that we stand at a fundamental crossroads for our country.  And you’re here because you know that in a little over a year, we are going to make a choice that will impact our lives for decades to come.  And I know you’re here because you care about your country, and you care about your fellow citizens.  More importantly, you care about your kids and your grandkids and the world that we’re going to be leaving for them.

And that’s really why I’m here tonight, why I was traveling around this state all day and why I will be working so hard for the next year.  You see, as First Lady, I have the privilege of traveling all across this country, meeting folks from all different backgrounds and hearing what’s going on in their daily lives.  And every day, I hear about the challenges and struggles -- about the businesses they’re trying to keep afloat, about the doctor bills they can’t pay or the mortgage they can no longer afford.  I hear about what they’re doing to keep it all together, how they’re taking that extra shift or working that extra job, how they’re scrimping and 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 families have been squeezed from all sides.  And the cost of things like gas and groceries and tuition have been continuously rising, but people’s paychecks just aren’t keeping up.  So when this economic crisis hit, for far too many families the bottom just completely fell out. 

So the question today is, what are we as a country going to do about all this?  Where do we go from here?  And I know that amidst all of the chatter and the debates, it can be hard to see clearly what’s at stake.  Gets lost.  Because these issues are complicated, and quite frankly, folks are busy, and they’re tired.  We’re raising families and working full-time jobs, and many helping out in their communities on top of all that.

So many of us just don’t have the time to really follow the news and to sort through all the back and forth and to figure out how all of this stuff connects to our daily lives.  But the fact is that in just a little over a year from now, we are going to make a decision between two very different visions for this country.

And I am here tonight because when it comes to just about every issue that we face -- from our health, to our economic security, to the quality of our schools -- the stakes have never been higher for our families and for our country.

And let’s start with the American Jobs Act that my husband just sent to Congress, because when we talk about how this bill would give tax cuts to 6 million business owners, it’s important to understand that we’re talking about the folks who run the restaurants and the stores and the startups that create two-thirds of all new jobs each year.  That’s two-thirds. 

It’s important for us to remember that we’re talking about people who work themselves to the bone every day.  Then they head home and they pore over the books late into the night, determined to make those numbers add up.  We’re talking about a tax cut that could mean the difference between these businesses hiring new employees or handing out pink slips; between keeping their doors open or closing shop for good.  That’s what’s at stake here.

When we talk about how the bill would extend unemployment insurance for 6 million Americans, we have to remember that we’re talking about people, our neighbors, who are just weeks away from losing their only source of income.

So this bill is literally about whether or not millions of families -- and children -- will have food on their table or a roof over their heads.

It’s about whether folks will have more money in their pockets, which means more money into our economy, which means more jobs.

But more importantly, it’s about whether we as a country will honor that fundamental promise that we made generations ago, that when times are hard, we do not abandon our fellow citizens.  (Applause.)  We don’t let everything fall apart for struggling families.  Instead, we say, there but for the grace of God goes my family.  Instead, we remember that we’re all in this together, and we extend a helping hand.  That’s who we are.

So that’s why even though there are some trying to stop this bill from moving forward, my husband -- your President -- will not give up.  (Applause.)  He is going to keep fighting for what are common-sense jobs proposals -- whether it’s tax cuts for workers, tax credits for businesses that hire unemployed veterans, jobs for teachers and construction workers, job training for unemployed or low-income people, rebuilding our crumbling schools, refurbishing vacant or foreclosed homes and business.

All of that is what’s in the American Jobs Act.  That’s what we’re fighting for.  And that is the choice in this election.  (Applause.)

And how 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.)  Now, this was his first bill because, as he put it, we believe that here in America, there are no second-class citizens in our workplace.  And he did it because he understands that 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, and closing that pay gap can mean the difference between women losing $50 to $100, $500 from each paycheck, or having that money in their pockets to buy gas and groceries and school clothes for their kids.  That is the choice that we’re making in this election.  (Applause.)

And we have to talk about health care for a minute.  Last year, we made history together by finally passing health reform.  But now there are folks out there talking about repealing that reform.  And today, we have to ask ourselves, are we going to let them succeed?

AUDIENCE:  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  Is that who we are?  Will we let insurance companies deny us coverage because we have preexisting conditions like breast cancer or diabetes, or will we stand up and say that in this country, we do not let our fellow citizens go bankrupt because they get sick?  Who are we?  (Applause.) 

We have to ask ourselves, will we let insurance companies refuse to cover basic preventative care -- things like cancer screenings, prenatal care that we know save money and save lives, or will we stand up for our lives and for the lives of the people we love?  That’s what’s at stake here.  That is the choice in this election.

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

Think about how this President has tripled investments for job training at community colleges just this year alone.  This is about millions of hardworking folks who are determined to get the skills they need for a better job and better wages.  These are people who want to do better, folks willing to do whatever it takes to improve their own lives.  Folks who are willing to work full-time jobs, raising their kids, but still they find time to go to class every evening, study late into the night because they desperately want something better for the families.

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

And let’s not forget what it meant when my husband appointed 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.)  But more importantly, let us not forget the impact their decisions will have on our lives for decades to come -- on our privacy and our security, on whether we can speak freely, worship openly, and love whomever we choose.  That is what’s at stake here.  (Applause.)

Think about how your President is finally bringing the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to a responsible end.  (Applause.)  And how we’ll be bringing the last of our troops home from Iraq by the end of the year, and those men and women will be able to celebrate the holidays with their families.  (Applause.) 

Think about all these men and women and what they do for us and how we’re helping our veterans and their families get the education, the employment and the benefits that they’ve earned, because we believe that we should serve our men and women uniform and their families as well as they have served us.  That’s who we are.  (Applause.)

And let’s not forget how because we 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.)

And think about how your President finally brought to justice the man behind the 9/11 attacks and so many other horrific acts of terror.  (Applause.)  And how we have a foreign policy where we -- yes, we work to keep our country safe, but we also restore our standing in the world.  That is what’s at stake in this election.  (Applause.)

I could go on. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Go on.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  You could.  (Laughter.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  But make no mistake about it, whether it’s health care, the economy, 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, who we want to be.  Will we be a country that tells folks who have done everything right but are still struggling to get by, “tough luck, you’re on your own”?  Is that who we are?

AUDIENCE:  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  Or will we honor that fundamental American belief that I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper and if one of us is hurting then we’re all hurting?  Who are we?  (Applause.)  That’s what this election is about.  Who are we?  Will we be a country where opportunity is limited to a few at the top?  Who are we?  Or will we give every child a chance to succeed, no matter where they’re from, what they look like, or how much money their parents have?  Who are we?  (Applause.)  Will we lose sight of those basic values that made our country great and built a thriving middle class?  Will we rebuild our economy for the long term so that real work pays, responsibility is rewarded, and yes, everyone gets a fair shake and does their fair share?  Who are we?  That is the choice we face.  (Applause.)  Those are the stakes. 

And believe me, Barack knows this better than anyone.  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.  Then when she needed help, who stepped in?  His grandmother, waking up every morning before dawn to take the bus to her job at the bank.  And his grandmother worked hard, she supported their entire family, and she was good at what she did.  But for nearly two decades she was passed over for promotions because she was a woman.  And she watched men no more qualified than she was -- men she had actually trained -- climb the corporate ladder ahead of her. 

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.  Oh, and lord knows today, as a father, he knows what it means to want your children to grow up with no limits to their dreams.  (Applause.) 

You see, these are the kind of experiences that have made him the man and the President he is today, and we are blessed to have someone like him in office.  (Applause.)  That’s why I’m here.

And that’s what I hear in his voice when he returns home from a long day traveling around the country, and he tells me about the people he’s met.  That’s what I see in those quiet moments late at night, after the girls have gone to bed and he’s up late at night poring over briefings and letters from people who have shared their stories.  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 many letters from young people with so much promise, but so few opportunities. 

And I hear the passion and the determination in his voice:  “You won’t believe what folks are going through” -- that’s what he tells me.  He says, “Michelle, this isn’t right.  We’ve got to fix it.  We’ve got so much more to do.” 

See, the beauty about my husband is that when it comes to the people he meets, Barack has a memory like a steel trap -- and it’s a little irritating sometimes.  (Laughter.)  He might not remember your name, but if he’s had a few minutes and a decent conversation, he will never forget your story.  It becomes imprinted on his heart.  And that is what your President carries with him every day.  It is our collection of hopes and struggles and dreams.  And that is where Barack Obama gets his passion, that’s where he gets his toughness and his fight.  And that is why, even in the hardest moments -- and there have been many over the course of the last few years -- when it seems like all is lost and we’re sweating it, and we’re sweating him, Barack Obama never loses sight of the end goal.  He never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.  He just keeps moving forward.  He sees what we’re working for.  (Applause.)

But I have said this before, and I will say it again:  He cannot do this alone.  He cannot do this alone.  He needs your help.  He needs you out there, understanding these stakes, helping others who might be lost and confused understand these stakes.  He needs you to make those phone calls and register voters.  He needs you to take those “I’m in” cards, fill them out, sign up, get your friends, your neighbors, your colleagues, your congregation members -- shake them up.  Convince them to join in this effort and to invest just a little part of their life each week to this campaign.  That’s what Barack Obama needs from you. 

And I’m not going to kid you -- this journey is going to be long, and it will surely be hard.  And there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way.  But the truth is, that is how change always happens in this country.  The reality is change is slow; real change never happens all at once.  But the good news is that if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, if we keep doing what we know in our hearts is the right thing, then we always get there.  We have never taken a step back.  We always get there.  Maybe not in our lifetimes, but maybe in our children’s lifetime or our grandchildren’s lifetimes. 

And in the end, that is what this is all about.  In the end, we’re not fighting these battles for ourselves.  This isn’t about us.  We’re fighting them for our sons and our daughters, for our grandsons and our granddaughters.  (Applause.)  We’re fighting for the world we want to leave for them.  (Applause.)  Just like those who fought for us.

And I’m in this not 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.  (Applause.)  Because the truth is, no matter what happens, my girls will be okay.  My girls are blessed.  They have plenty of opportunities and advantages in their lives, and that’s probably true for all of you here with your kids.  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 she’s not our daughter, even if he’s not our son.  If any family in this country struggles, then we cannot be fully content with our own family’s good fortune because that is not what we do in America.  That is not who we are.  That is not who we are.  (Applause.)

In the end, we cannot separate our own story from the broader American story.  Like it or not, we’re all in this together, and that’s how it should be.  And we know that here in America, we can shape our own destiny.  We know that if we make the right choices and have the right priorities, we can ensure that everyone -- everyone -- gets a fair shake and a chance to get ahead. 

So, look, we don’t have time.  We cannot afford to be complacent or tired or frustrated.  We don’t have that kind of time.  There is too much at stake.  It is time for us to get to work.  So I have one last question for you:  Are you in?  (Applause.)  Wait, wait, wait, are you in?  (Applause.)  Do you understand what’s at stake?  (Applause.)  Are you all fired up and ready to make this happen?  This is the real deal.  We don’t have any more time.  This is about our children’s futures.  I look forward to working with you all in the years to come.  I’m going to be out there working so hard.  We need you fired up and ready to go like nothing else.  (Applause.)

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

END
7:39 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady at DNC Event -- Jacksonville, FL

Prime F. Osborne Convention Center
Jacksonville, Florida

12:13 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Jacksonville!  (Applause.)  It's wonderful to be back, and it's so great to see all of you.  How are you all doing?  (Laughter.)  You're already fired up and ready to go?  (Applause.)

Well, I want to start by thanking your First Lady -- Santhea, for that very kind and generous introduction.  I want to thank her for her leadership, from one First Lady to another.  It's not always easy, but she is carrying it with grace and style, and I'm grateful that she took the time to be here with us today.

I also want to thank the Bethel Baptist Church -- (applause) -- for that wonderful performance.  I always miss most of the fun stuff -- (laughter) -- but thank you for taking the time.

And I also have to recognize Polly and Bobby Stein and the rest of the host committee for their outstanding work on today’s event.  We have to give them a round of applause.  (Applause.)  I was teasing Bobby -- my visit -- the first time I came to Jacksonville, Bobby picked me up from the airport.  And he drives kind of fast.  (Laughter.)  But we made it safely.  (Laughter.)  But it was a very wonderful experience.  They've been terrific.

And finally, thanks to all of you for taking the time to join us here this afternoon.

And I know that there is a reason why all of you are here today.  You’re here because you know that we are at a fundamental crossroads for our country.  And you’re here because you know that in little over a year, we’re going to make a choice that will impact our lives for decades to come.  And I know you all are here because you care about this country, you care about your fellow citizens; more importantly, you care about your kids and your grandkids, and the world that we’re going to leave behind for them.

And truly, that’s why I’m here.  That's why I'm going to be out here working so hard in this election.  You see, as First Lady, one of the best things I do -- I have the privilege of traveling all across this great country, meeting with folks from all different backgrounds and hearing what’s going on in their lives.  Every day, I hear about people's struggles and challenges -- the businesses they’re trying to keep afloat.  I hear about the doctor bills they can’t pay, or the mortgage they can no longer afford.  I hear about how they’re trying to keep it all together, working that extra job, taking that extra shift; how they’re scrimping and saving and sacrificing, many folks 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 rise, but people’s paychecks just haven’t kept up.  So when the economic crisis hit, for too many families, the bottom fell out.  So the question today is, what are we, as a country, going to do about all this?  Where do we go from here?

Now, I know that amidst all of the chatter and the debates, it can be hard to clearly remember what’s really at stake.  These issues that we're dealing with, they are complicated, and quite frankly, folks are busy and tired.  We’re raising families and working full-time jobs.  Many of us are helping out in our communities on top of it all.  And many of us just don’t have time to follow the news, to sort through all the back-and- forth, and to figure out how all of that conversation connects to our daily lives.  But the fact is that in just little over a year from now, we are going to make a decision between two very different visions for this country.

And I am here today because when it comes to just about every single one of those issues that we face -- from our health, to our economic security, to the quality of our schools -- the stakes for our families, and for our country, have never been higher.

So let’s start with the American Jobs Act that my husband sent to Congress.  Let's start there.  Because it's important to know that when we talk about this bill, this is a bill that would give tax cuts to six million small business owners, so we’re talking about the folks who run the restaurants and the stores and the startups that create two-thirds of all new jobs in this economy.  That’s two-thirds of the jobs.  That's who we're talking about.
We’re talking about people who work themselves to the bone during the day, every day, and then the head home and pore over their books late into the night, determined to make those numbers add up.  We’re talking about a tax cut that could mean the difference from these businesses hiring new employees, or handing out pink slips -- between keeping their doors open, or closing shop for good.  That is what’s at stake here.

When we talk about how this bill would extend unemployment insurance for six million Americans, we’re talking about folks who are just two weeks -- or weeks away from losing their only source of income.  So this is literally about whether or not millions of families -- millions of families -- and children will have food on their tables or a roof over their heads.

It’s about whether folks will have more money in their pockets -- and more money in their pockets means more money in our economy, which means more jobs.  And more importantly, it’s about whether we as a country will honor that fundamental promise that we made generations ago, that when times are hard, we do not abandon our fellow citizens.  We don’t let everything fall apart for struggling families.  Instead, we say, “There but for the grace of God goes my family.”  Instead, we remember that we’re all in this together -- and we extend a helping hand.  That's who we are.  (Applause.)   

That is exactly why, even though there are some trying to stop this bill from moving forward, my husband -- your President -- will not give up.  (Applause.)  Believe me, he is going to keep fighting for what are common-sense jobs proposals -- whether it’s tax cuts for workers, tax credits for businesses that hire unemployed veterans, jobs for teachers and construction workers, job training for unemployed or low-income folks, rebuilding our crumbling schools, refurbishing vacant foreclosed homes and businesses. 

Now, all of that, that is part of the American Jobs Act, that kind of common-sense thinking.  That is what we’re fighting for here.  That is the choice in this election.  And we cannot forget that's the choice.  (Applause.)  

And how about the very first bill my husband signed into law -- it was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work.  (Applause.)  Why did he do this?  Because, as he put it, we believe that here in America, there are no second-class citizens in our workplace.  (Applause.)  And he did it because he understands that when nearly two-thirds of women are breadwinners or co-breadwinners, the success of women in this economy is the key to families' success in this economy. There are no two ways about it.  (Applause.)  So closing that pay gap, it can mean the difference between women losing $50, $100, $500 from every paycheck, or having that money to buy gas and groceries and to put clothes on the backs of their kids.  That is the choice we’re making in this election.

And let’s talk just for a minute about health care.  Last year, we made history together by finally passing health reform. (Applause.)  But now, there are folks out there talking about repealing this reform.

AUDIENCE:  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  So today we have to ask ourselves are we going to let this happen?

AUDIENCE:  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  Will we let insurance companies deny us coverage because we have preexisting conditions like breast cancer or diabetes?  Or will we stand up and say that in this country, we do not let our fellow citizens go bankrupt because they get sick?  Who are we? 

Will we let insurance companies refuse to cover basic preventative care -- things like cancer screenings or prenatal care that save money and we know save lives?  Or will we stand up for ourselves -- and more importantly, stand up for the people that we love in our lives?  That is what is at stake.  That is the choice that we're making in this election, and we cannot forget.  (Applause.)

And think for a moment about what has happened in education. Think about the investments that this President has made to raise standards and reform our public schools.  And we know this is about improving the circumstances for millions -- millions -- of children in this country, kids we know sitting in crumbling classes.  Our kids.  Kids with so much promise.  Kids we know could be anything they wanted if we just gave them the chance.
Think about how we’ve made investments, tripled them for job training at community colleges just this year.

And that's about millions of hardworking folks who are determined to get the skills they need for better jobs and better wages.  Folks willing to do whatever it takes to improve their own lives.  These are the folks who are working that full-time job, raising their kids, and still finding time to make it to that class in the evening, and study late into the night.  Why?  Because they desperately want something better for their lives.  They're willing to work for it.

And make no mistake about it, this kind of investment in our students, 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 let us compete with any country anywhere in the world.  That's what’s at stake in this election.  (Applause.)  

And let’s not forget what it meant when my husband appointed those two brilliant Supreme Court justices, 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.) 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, or worship openly, and love whomever we choose.  That is what’s at stake here.  (Applause.)

Think about how this President is finally bringing the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to a responsible end.  (Applause.)  Think about how we’ll be bringing the last of our troops home from Iraq by the end of this year, and those men and women will be able to celebrate the holidays with their families.  (Applause.)  Think about all that we’re doing to help our veterans and our military families get the education, the employment and the benefits that they’ve earned -- because we believe that we should serve our men and women in uniform and their families as well as they have served us.  (Applause.)

But let us not forget how, because we 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.)

And we cannot forget about how this President finally brought to justice the man behind the 9/11 attacks and so many other horrific acts of terror.  (Applause.)  This means so much to us to have a foreign policy where we work to keep our country safe and we restore our standing in the world.  That is what’s at stake in this election.  (Applause.)

So, Jacksonville, 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, who we want to be.  Who do we want to be?  Will we be a country that tells folks who have done everything right but are struggling to get by, “tough luck, you’re on your own”?  Is that who we are?

AUDIENCE:  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  Or will we honor that fundamental American belief that I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper -- (applause) -- and when one of us is hurting, then all of us are hurting?  Who are we?  (Applause.)

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

AUDIENCE:  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  Or will we give every child -- every child -- no matter where they're from, or what they look like, or how much money their parents make -- will we give every child a chance?  Who are we?

Will we lose sight of those basic values that made our country great and built a thriving middle class?  Or will we rebuild our economy for the long term so that work pays, and responsibility is rewarded, and everyone -- everyone -- gets a fair shake and does their fair share?  That is the choice we face.  Those are the stakes.

Believe me, your President 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 in but his grandmother -- watching her get up before dawn to take a bus to a job at the bank.  And his grandmother worked hard, and she was good at what she did.  But for nearly two decades, she was passed over for promotions because she was a woman.  And she watched men no more qualified then she was -- many men she actually trained -- climb the ladder ahead of her. 

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.  And believe me, today, as a father, he knows what it means to want your children to grow up with no limits to their dreams.  (Applause.)  This is who your President is. 
 
Those are the experiences that have made him the man -- and more importantly, the President -- he is today.  And we are blessed to have him.  (Applause.)  And that is what I hear in my husband's voice when he returns home after a long day traveling the country, in 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 is still up to 1-2 o'clock in the morning, poring over briefings and letters from people -- because he reads everything.  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 bills and keep his pride.  The letter from too many young person 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.”  That’s what he tells me.  He says, “Michelle, this ain't right.  We got to fix it.  We have so much more to do.”  (Applause.)

See, what you have to know about your President is that when it comes to the people he meets, Barack has a memory like a steel trap.  He might not remember your name, but he will never forget your story.  He carries it with him.  It's imprinted on his heart.  And that is what he carries every day -- it is our collection of hopes and struggles and dreams. 

That is where Barack Obama gets his passion.  That is where he gets his toughness and his fight.  And that is why, even in the hardest moments -- and there have been many hard moments over the last few years -- when it seems like all is lost and we're all sweating it, and we're sweating him -- Barack Obama never loses sight of the end goal.  (Applause.)  He's always looking at the prize at the end.  He never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.  He just keeps moving forward.  (Applause.)

But I have said this before, and I know I said it here in Jacksonville, and I will say it again:  He cannot do this alone. That was never the promise.  This is our struggle, because it is our country.  And he needs you to make this happen.  He needs you to make those calls and register those voters.

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  He needs you to sign those “I’m in” cards.  He needs you to sign up your friends and your neighbors and your colleagues -- because people need to know what's at stake.  This isn't a joke.  Convince them to join in on this effort and give just a little piece of their life each week to this campaign.  That's what Barack Obama needs from all of you. 

And I am not going to kid you -- 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.  It wouldn't be interesting if there weren’t.  (Laughter.)  But the truth is -- and we can't forget -- that is how change always happens in this country.  It's how it always happens.  The reality is that change is slow. Real change doesn’t happen all at once.  But we must remember that if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, and know that if we do what is right, that we can move this forward -- that eventually we get there.  We always do.  And we can't get discouraged.  We always get there.  We never move backwards.  Maybe not in our lifetimes, but maybe in our children’s lifetimes, our grandchildren’s lifetimes -- like the people who sacrificed for us today.  (Applause.)

And in the end, that’s really what this is all about.  In the end, we’re fighting these battles not for ourselves; we’re fighting these battles for our sons and our daughters, and for our grandsons and our granddaughters.  We are fighting for the world we want to leave for them.  That's what this is about.  (Applause.) 

And I am in this fight not just as a mother who wants to leave a legacy for my children.  I’m in it as a citizen who knows what we can do together to change this country for the better.  Because the truth is, no matter what happens, my girls are blessed.  My girls will have plenty of advantages and opportunities in their lives.  And I'm sure that's true for many of your kids and grandkids as well.  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 she is not our daughter, even if he is not our son.  If any family in this country struggles, then we cannot be fully content with our own family’s good fortune -- because that’s not what we do in America.  That is not who we are.

In the end, we cannot separate our own story from the broader American story.  Like it or not, we are all in this together.  And that is a good thing.  And we know that here in America, we can shape our own destiny.  We know that if we make the right choices, and have the right priorities, we can ensure that everyone -- everyone --  gets a fair shake and a chance to get ahead. 

So we can’t afford to be complacent, or tired, or frustrated.  We don’t have the time.  Too much is at stake.  We have to get to work.  We have too much work to do.  (Applause.)

So I have one last question for you, Jacksonville:  Are you in? 

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  Wait, wait, wait.  Are you in this?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  Are you ready to make this happen?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  Do we understand what's at stake?   This is not a joke.  The choices are clear.  We need you fired up and ready to go, working hard every minute of the day.   We've got less than a year -- almost.  We don't have time to joke around.  You got to shake people up.  You got to get them ready to roll.  We can do this.

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  So let's fire it up. 

Thank you all.  God bless.  (Applause.)

END
12:37 P.M. EDT