Remarks by the First Lady at Grassroots Campaign Event With Governor Pat Quinn -- Chicago, Illinois

UIC Pavilion
Chicago, Illinois

5:07 P.M. CDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, my goodness!  I’m home!  (Applause.)  Oh, my goodness.  It is so good to be home.  (Applause.)  Let me start by thanking --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  I love you!

MRS. OBAMA:  I love you all.  I miss you all so much.  (Applause.)  We miss you guys.  But we’ve got a job to do here today, right?  We’ve got a Governor to reelect.  And I want to start by thanking my friend Pat Quinn for that very kind introduction.  I am so proud to be here to support his reelection to Governor of the great state of Illinois.  Let’s get it done!  (Applause.) 

I also want to recognize our terrific Senator, Senator Dick Durbin, as well.  Dick has been such a great friend and a partner to me.  He’s been a powerful leader for our state and for our country out in Washington, and I am so glad that he’s here to join us.

I want to remind you all to get out and vote for Dick Durbin and the other outstanding leaders we have here today -– just to name a few, Representatives Danny Davis, Bill Foster, Luis Gutierrez, Robin Kelly, Jan Schakowsky -- (applause) -- all of them representing our state so wonderfully in Washington, as well as Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon, our Secretary of State Jesse White, our Attorney General Lisa Madigan, our candidate for Treasurer, Senator Mike Frerichs, and of course, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle.  Let’s give them all a round of applause.  (Applause.)

All right, you all.  There is a reason that I’m here today for Governor Quinn, and there’s a reason why I’m going to be casting my vote for Governor Quinn, and that is because I know Pat Quinn and I have seen how he is out there every day making the tough decisions to lift up our families and to move this state forward. 

And let me just tell you, this is personal for me because this city, this state -- this is my home.  And like all of you, I care deeply about what happens here.  I care deeply about who is the leadership here in this state.  And over the past four years, I’ve seen Pat Quinn fighting off radical budget cuts to our schools.  I’ve seen him investing in early childhood education, in college scholarships for our kids to make sure they get to fulfill their God-given potential. 

I’ve watched Pat work tirelessly with me, hand in hand, for our veterans and military families, helping them buy homes, find jobs and get the education they’ve earned.  I’ve seen Pat creating thousands of new jobs here in this state.  His push for the minimum wage is essential.  And the man even suspended his own paycheck to help fix our pension crisis here in Illinois.  (Applause.) 

That is what -- just some of what Pat Quinn has done for us as Governor.  And that’s really what matters in this election -– not what a candidate says, but what he actually does.  And let me tell you something -- Lord knows I’ve been through enough campaigns and elections in this state to know just a little bit about what I’m talking about.  (Laughter.) 

Because I have seen candidates come and go.  I have seen people who have spent a lot of money and make a lot of promises.  But at the end of the day, we have got to ask ourselves, what do these folks really stand for?  What do they really stand for?  What are their values?  What do they believe in?  What are they going to do for us?  Well, I know what Pat Quinn stands for.  I know, that’s why I’m here.

Pat believes like we do that when you get to the top, you don’t pull up the ladder after you -- you reach back and you help other folks get the same opportunities you had to succeed.  (Applause.)  Pat Quinn believes that everyone should play by the same rules -– no gaming the system, no special breaks for some folks at the expense of others.  Pat thinks that everyone who’s willing to work for it should be able to build a good life for themselves and an even better life for their families.  And finally, Pat believes in putting our children first.  Just like us, he wakes up every morning thinking about their health, their happiness, their futures, our kids. 

So let’s be very clear:  If we want a Governor who shares our values and is going to fight for our families, then we need to work day and night to reelect Pat Quinn as Governor of Illinois.  (Applause.)  We have to do that.  And I am confident that we can get this done.  I am confident, because I’ve seen what you all can do.  I’ve seen it.

A lot of you here today in this city, in this state, you have been with me and Barack from the very beginning -- from the very beginning.  (Applause.)  You all remember those days back when we were on the South Side working to get Barack to Springfield as State Senator?  You all were back with us when we traveled throughout the state to get Barack to represent us in Washington as a U.S. Senator.  You all were there with us when we were out in Iowa and New Hampshire, remember?  We were talking about hope and change, we were getting fired up and ready to go.  You were there.  You were there.  You did the work.

And then you were with us when Barack first took office, and he got a good look at the mess he’d been handed and wondered what on Earth he had gotten himself into.  Remember how bad things were back when Barack took office?  Let me take you back for a moment, because sometimes we forget. 

Back when Barack first took office, we were, in this country, in full-blown crisis mode.  Our economy was literally on the brink of collapse.  Wall Street banks were folding -- folding.  You all hear me?  They were folding.  Businesses were losing 800,000 jobs a month -- every month.  Folks on TV were panicking about whether we were headed for another Great Depression –- you remember that?  And that wasn’t just talk, that was a real possibility.  This is what Barack Obama walked into on day one as President of the United States.  I could go on.  Things were bad. 

Now, I want you to think about how things look today, less than six years later.  And I’m going to give you facts; I’m talking as a citizen, not as a wife. 

By almost every economic measure, we are better off today than when Barack took office.  That is a fact.  (Applause.)  Why do I say that?  Our businesses have created more than 10 million new jobs since 2010 -- 10 million, including the 236,000 jobs last month alone.  Now, this is the longest uninterrupted run of private sector job growth in our nation’s history.  Do you hear me?  In the history of this nation.  (Applause.)  The unemployment rate has dropped from a peak of 10 percent back in 2009 to 5.9 percent today.  And right now, there are more job openings than at any time since 2001.

Last year, the number of children living in poverty decreased by 1.4 million -– the largest drop since 1966.  (Applause.)  And today, our high school graduation rate is at a record high.  More of our young people are graduating from college than ever before.  And because of the Affordable Care Act, health care costs are growing at the slowest rate in nearly 50 years, and millions more Americans finally have health insurance.  (Applause.) 

Now, I want you to also think about how different our country looks to children growing up today.  Think about how our kids take for granted that a black person or a woman can be President of the United States.  (Applause.)  They take for granted that their President will end hurtful policies like “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and speak out for equality.  (Applause.)

So while we still have a lot of work to do, we have truly made so much of that change we were talking about.  But what I want you to remember is that Barack didn’t do that all by himself just sitting in the Oval Office.  He did it with the help of outstanding leaders across this country -– leaders like Pat Quinn, who understand what’s really going on in our lives.  Leaders who will stand with Barack to create more jobs and build better schools.  Leaders who will make sure that women get equal pay, and that we can make our own decisions about our bodies and our health care.  (Applause.)  That’s how he did it. 

In short, Pat Quinn has Barack’s back.  And now it’s time for us to have Pat’s back.  (Applause.)  Now it’s our turn.  Because make no mistake about it, Barack’s last campaign wasn’t in 2012.  Barack’s last campaign is this year, 2014, because that election in 2012, that wasn’t the change we sought -- it was only the chance to make that change.  And if we want to finish what we started together, then we need to reelect Pat Quinn as Governor.  We need to do that today.  (Applause.)   

Now we know this won’t be easy.  We know this won’t be easy, but we know a little bit about not easy, don’t we?  We know that there is too much money in politics, and special interests have way too much influence.  But what I want you to understand is that they had plenty of money and influence back in 2008 and 2012, and we still won those elections -- we still won.  (Applause.) 

You want to know why we won?  Because we showed up and we voted.  (Applause.)  It’s as plain as that.  Because at the end of the day, the folks running those special interest groups, the folks who poured millions of dollars into those elections, well they each just have one vote -- and so do each of us.  And ultimately, the only thing that counts are those votes.  That’s what decides elections in the United States of America.  That is still true.  And that is why Barack Obama is President right now. 

He is President today because a whole bunch of folks who never voted before showed up to vote in 2008 and 2012.  And a lot of people were shocked when Barack won -- they were shocked -- because they were counting on folks like us to stay home.  They were counting on it.  But we proved them wrong.  We proved them wrong, because Barack won because record numbers of women and minorities and young people showed up to vote.

But see then, this is what happens -- then the midterms came along, and too many of our people just tuned out.  And that’s what folks on the other side are counting on this year, because when we stay home, they win.  So they’re assuming that we won’t care.  They’re hoping that we won’t be organized.  They’re praying that we’re not energized.  And only we can prove them wrong.  Only we can do it.

And make no mistake about it -- this race is going to be tight.  We know that races like this can be won or lost by just a few thousand or even a few hundred votes. 

And I want you to think about what happened in Governor Quinn’s race back in 2010.  The outcome of that race was decided by about 32,000 votes.  Now, that might sound like a lot, but when you break that number down, that’s just about three votes per precinct -- do you hear me?  That’s three votes per precinct.  That was the margin of difference. 

Now, I know that every single one of you all knows three people who didn’t vote in the midterms.  And I know you know three people that you can connect with.  I mean, just think about those numbers.  That is the power of the right to vote.  And if we do that, Pat Quinn wins this election.  (Applause.) 

So let’s be real clear -- that’s why I’m talking -- we can go emotion, but they’re just facts about how to win.  We have to be clear:  This election is on us.  These are our voters.  This is us.  And we can’t wait around for anyone else to do this for us.  It’s on us to get this done.  It’s on us to get people energized, to get them organized, to get them out to vote. 

So that’s why this rally is so important.  That’s why I’m here.  That’s where all of you come in.  Because every day between now and the November the 4th, we need you out there doing the hard work, knocking on those doors, making those calls.  It’s the person-to-person contact.  These are our voters.  We need you to tell folks to vote early.  That’s what Barack and I are going to be doing even from Washington.

And I want you all to know -- remember, you can vote early by mail, or you can vote early in person all across this state starting on October the 20th.  The early vote got it done for Barack, and we can do it for Pat Quinn.  (Applause.) 

So I want you all to go to QuinnForIllinois.com.  I’m being real specific -- QuinnForIllinois.com -- and you can find out all the information you need about how to vote, and you can also sign up to volunteer.  And once you have the information you need for everyone you know, you need to get them to vote early.  Think about those three people in your life who don’t think their vote matters; who don’t think it’s worth getting up early, or to fill out the form -- those folks in your church, or your neighbors, or your classmates who think somehow this doesn’t matter.  And I want you to get those folks to the polls on November the 4th.  Bring as many people as you can -- family members, neighborhood folks, church folks.  Don’t leave anyone behind.   

In this arena alone, if we do that, we could change the course of this election.  (Applause.)  We can change the course of this election with the folks in this room.  So start today reaching out, because we’ve got less than a month until Election Day.  And we all need to be as passionate and as hungry for this election as we were back in 2008 and 2010 [2012.]  In fact, we need to be even more passionate and even more hungry, because races like this Governor’s race here in Illinois will be even harder and even closer than those presidential elections, but they’re just as important.

Because the stakes this year simply could not be higher.  See, because if we don’t elect leaders like Pat Quinn and Dick Durbin and the other outstanding folks here today who will put people first instead of fighting for special interests, then we know exactly what will happen:  We will see more folks interfering in women’s private decisions about our health care.  We’ll see more opposition to immigration reform and raising the minimum wage for hard-working folks.

So I want to be clear:  If you think people who work 40 or 50 hours a week shouldn’t have to live in poverty in the wealthiest nation on the planet; if you don’t want women’s bosses making decisions about their birth control; if you think women should get equal pay for equal work; if you want our kids to have quality preschool, have the chance to go to college to get the education they need to fulfill their God-given potential, then we need you to step up.  We need everyone you know to step up and vote for Pat Quinn.  (Applause.) 

That’s what’s at stake in this election -- the kind of country that we want to leave for our kids and our grandkids.  Because we have to remember those kids are counting on us to stand up for them.  They’re kids like all the kids we know.  I met young people at Harper High School in Englewood -- I met a great group of kids.

Many of you know the odds these kids and so many of our kids are facing -– neighborhoods torn apart by poverty and hopelessness, by guns and gangs; parents who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, or who’ve lost their jobs.  When I was at Harper, there were about 25 kids in the classroom I spoke to that day, and when asked whether they knew someone who’d been shot, every single one of them raised their hands -- every last one of those kids raised their hand. 

But let me tell you some other facts about these kids.  See, one of them was the valedictorian.  One was the salutatorian.  One was a football star.  A couple of them were leaders in the ROTC.  See, against all the odds, those kids still had big dreams for their futures.  (Applause.)  They still found a way to lift their sights to college, to careers, to want families of their own.

And here’s what you all know -- as I travel around the country, I meet so many kids just like those kids at Harper.  Kids who wake up early and take the long route to school to avoid the gangs.  Kids who juggle afterschool jobs to support their families, stay up late to get their homework done.  Kids whose parents don’t speak a word of English, but who are fighting every day to realize their dream of a better life. 

See, these kids, they have every reason to give up, but they are so hungry to succeed.  They are desperate to lift themselves up.  And that’s why we’re here -- because those kids, they never give up -- they never give up.  And neither can we -- neither can we.

So between now and November, we need to be energized for them.  We need to be inspired for them.  We need to pour everything we have into this election so that they can have the opportunities they need to build the futures they deserve.  And I know we can do this, because we’ve done it before.  You all have done it before.  You amaze me.  You all amaze me. 

If we keep stepping up and bringing others along with us, then I know -- I know in my heart that we can keep making that change we believe in.  I know we can elect Pat Quinn as Governor of Illinois.  I know that we can elect Dick Durbin and all our other terrific leaders here today.  And I know that together, we can build a future worthy of all our children.  So let’s just get this done.

Thank you all.  God bless.  (Applause.) 

Remarks by First Lady Michelle Obama at Michaud for Governor Rally

University of Maine
Bangor, Maine

4:40 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA: Hey, Maine! (Applause.) Oh my goodness, thank you guys! Thanks so much. Wow, you guys are really fired up and I love it! (Applause.)

I am so thrilled to be back in Maine -- I just wish I could stay longer. (Laughter and applause.) But let me start by thanking our friend, the next governor of Maine, Mike Michaud. (Applause.)

I don’t know about you, but -- I don’t know why you’re here but I’m here for Mike. I’m here for Mike. (Laughter and applause.) And just listening to him backstage, he is a decent man. He is an honest man. He is a hard-working man. And I am very proud to be here in support of him. Mike understands what families here in Maine are going through -- he knows. And as you all know, the entire time he was serving in your state legislature, he was working on the mill floor at the Great Northern Paper Company. He worked there for more than 29 years. So when it comes to creating jobs and making sure folks get a decent paycheck for their work, Mike understands what’s at stake in people’s lives. And Mike doesn’t get caught up in partisanship or politics. He was unanimously elected president of the Maine Senate by 17 Democrats, 17 Republicans and one independent. (Applause.) And he worked hard to bring those folks together to do great things for this state like raise the minimum wage, and cut taxes for small businesses, and so much more.

And Mike brought that same spirit to Congress -- working across the aisle to improve benefits for our veterans, and promote clean energy, and make sure our military uniforms are 100 percent made here in the U.S., including right here in Maine. (Applause.)

So whether it’s strengthening the economy, or expanding access to health care, or ensuring that women get equal pay for equal work, Mike will wake up, as he said, every day ready to fight for hard-working families. And so, once again, I’m so proud to be here on his behalf and I think you all for being here to support him as well.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you! (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA: I love you, too. (Laughter and applause.)

I also want to recognize Senator Emily Cain. (Applause.) Yes, Emily. (Applause.) And Emily’s mom. (Laughter.) Emily has led the charge in your state legislature for economic development and better schools and more affordable health care, and I know that she will be an outstanding Congresswoman for the people of the 2nd district, so be sure to vote for Emily along with Mike on November the 4th. (Applause.) Yay, Emily! (Applause.)

And I also want to give a big hello to Cecile Richards who has been such a strong, passionate advocate for women and families across this country -- and I’m thrilled -- it was a pleasure, I know for all of you, to hear from her today. (Applause.)

And thanks also -- I’ve got a lot of people to thank here in Maine. You guys have made my visit so special, I want to thank the president of this university, Susan Hunter, for her outstanding leadership and for hosting us here today. (Applause.)

But most of all, I want to thank you guys, I really do. (Applause.) Yes, I see so many wonderful faces -- folks who have been with us from the beginning, folks who are new to this whole endeavor. I remember some of you were with us back when we were out in Iowa and New Hampshire, talking about hope and change and getting all fired up and ready to go -- remember that? Yes! (Applause.)

And then you all were with us when Barack first took office. (Applause.) And he had a moment to step back and take a good look at the mess he had been handed. (Laughter.) And wondered what on Earth he’d gotten himself into. (Laughter.)

But let’s go back for a moment, because I want you to remember how bad things were back then -- because it’s easy to forget, particularly for the young people because you all were young, you weren’t paying attention. (Laughter.) But when Barack first stepped into office, this country was in full-blown crisis mode. Our economy was literally on the brink of collapse. If you can imagine, Wall Street banks were folding. Businesses were losing 800,000 jobs a month. Folks on TV on the news were panicking about whether we were headed for another Great Depression –- and that wasn’t just talk, that was a real possibility. And there was more -- that was just domestically. But that’s just some of what Barack walked into on day one as President.

Now, I want to bring you to today. And I want you to look at where we are less than six years later. By almost every economic measure, we are better off today than when Barack took office. And here is why. (Applause.) Our businesses have created more than 10 million new jobs since 2010. (Applause.) And that’s including the 236,000 jobs created just last month. This is the longest uninterrupted run of private-sector job growth in our nation’s history. You understand that? In the history of this nation. (Applause.)

The unemployment rate has dropped from a peak of 10 percent back in 2009 to 5.9 percent today. (Applause.) And right now -- and this is important for our young people -- right now, more job openings are available than at any time since 2001. (Applause.)

Last year, the number of children living in poverty decreased by 1.4 million –- that is the largest drop since 1966. (Applause.) And today, our high school graduation rate is at a record high. More of our young people are graduating from college than ever before. And as you know, because of the Affordable Care Act, health care costs are growing at the slowest rate in nearly 50 years, and millions more Americans finally have health insurance. (Applause.)

And just think about how different our country looks to children growing up today. Think about how our kids take for granted that a black person or a woman can be President of the United States. (Applause.) They take for granted that their President will end hurtful policies like don’t ask, don’t tell and will speak out for equality for all Americans. (Applause.)

This is the kind of change that can happen when we elect leaders who share our values and who listen to our voices. And that’s what this election is all about. It’s about whether we’re going to elect leaders who will fight for our families and for the kind of world we want to leave for our kids and grandkids.

That’s the kind of leadership people here in Maine deserve. And that’s why we need to elect Mike Michaud as governor of this state. Mike -- we need him. (Applause.) And that’s why I’m here.

See, Mike, he understands that there is nothing we wouldn’t do for our children -- nothing. We always put our kids’ interests first. We wake up every morning and go to bed every night thinking and worrying about their health, their happiness, their futures. Yes, young people, you drive us nuts. (Laughter.)

So we deserve leaders like Mike who believe that no matter how our kids start out in life, if they’re willing to work for it, they should have every opportunity to fulfill their boundless promise and they should have every opportunity to get a good education, build a decent life for themselves and a better life for their own kids. That’s the American Dream we all believe in. And that’s what this election here in Maine is all about.

Now, it’s true that there is too much money in politics. And, yes, it’s true that -- (applause) -- it’s true that special interests have too much influence. But here is what I want you to remember: They had plenty of money and influence back in 2008 and 2012, and we still won those elections. (Applause.)

I want you to understand the power that all of you have. You want to know why we won? Because we showed up and we voted. And at the end of the day, the folks running those special interest groups, the folks who poured millions of dollars into those elections –- they each have just one vote, just like we do.

And ultimately, the only thing that counts are those votes. That’s what decides elections in the United States of , and that’s why Barack Obama is President right now. (Applause.) He is President because a whole bunch of folks who never voted before showed up to vote in 2008 and 2012. And a lot of people were shocked when Barack won because they were counting on folks like us to stay home -- but we proved them wrong. Barack won because record numbers of women and minorities and young people showed up to vote.

But, see, then when the midterms came along, too many of our people just tuned out -- and that’s what folks are counting on, on the other side this year. Because when we stay home, they win. So they’re assuming that we won’t care. They’re hoping that we won’t be organized. And only we can prove them wrong. (Applause.)

And as Mike said, this race is going to be tight. We know that races like this can be won or lost by just a few thousand -- even just a few hundred votes.

I want you to just think about what happened in the governor’s race here in Maine back in 2010. The outcome of that election -- yes, you guys are like, ooh. (Laughter.) But the outcome of that election was decided by about 9,800 votes. And while that might sound like a lot, when you break down that number, that’s about eight votes per precinct. Do you understand that? That’s eight votes.

Now I know that every single one of you knows eight people who can get to the polls, right? (Laughter.) You know eight people who didn’t vote in those elections. (Applause.) You know eight people who are thinking in their minds that their vote doesn’t count. You know those folks. You know them. They say, why should I vote, what does it matter. Well, it made the difference in last year’s election for governor -- 2010. So let’s be clear: This is on us. We can’t wait around for anyone else to do this for us. It’s on us to get people energized. It’s on us to get folks out to vote on November the 4th.

And that’s where you all come in. We need all of you out there every day -- do you hear me? Every day. Not every other -- every day between now and November 4th we need you knocking on doors and making calls and getting everyone you know out to vote for Mike because it will be that ground game that makes the difference. It’s that kind of hard work for anybody who worked on our campaign -- you know how valuable that kind of day-to-day work is. Don’t ever underestimate it. And it may seem tedious, and it may be a little bit frightening knocking on a stranger’s door, but it’s that kind of interaction with your neighbors that makes all the difference.

And you can sign up to volunteer right here and right now -- just find one of the organizers with the clipboard. They’re all here. And I want every single one of you to sign up for at least one shift for the final four days of the election -- that’s essential. It’s those last four days, that last big push.

And then, on Election Day, when you head to the polls to vote for Mike, I want you all to bring eight people with you. (Laughter.) Okay? Bring your eight people with you. Bring folks from your family, your neighborhood, your church, your school, your classmates, your dormmates. Don’t leave anyone behind.

And start reaching out to those folks today just to tell them to mark November 4th on their calendars. This race will be so close. And on election night, as the results are coming in, I want you to be able to look back and know that you did everything you could to elect Mike as the next governor of Maine, because the stakes this year simply could not be higher.

And if we don’t show up at the polls this November, if we don’t elect leaders like Mike who will put people first instead of just fighting for special interests, then we know exactly what will happen. We will see more folks interfering in women’s private decisions about our health care. We’ll see more opposition to raising the minimum wage and ensuring access to health care for hard-working folks. (Applause.)

So I want to be very clear: If you think people who work 40 or 50 hours a week shouldn’t have to live in poverty in the wealthiest nation on Earth, if you think women should get equal pay for equal work, if you want your kids to have quality preschool and the college education they need to fulfill every last bit of their God-given potential, then you need to step up and get everyone you know out to vote this November. That’s what’s at stake in these elections -- the kind of country we want to leave for our kids and grandkids. That’s what’s at stake. (Applause.)

And here is what I want you to remember: Those kids, our kids, are counting on us to stand up for them this November. And there are so many of these kids all over the country who I meet every day who are counting on us. Kids like a young man named Lawrence Lawson who I met earlier this year.

This kid lost his father -- he died when he was just eight years old. And at the age of nine, Lawrence suffered a major seizure and had to learn to read, and walk and speak again. When he was twelve, his mom passed away, and Lawrence was passed from his aunt in Atlanta to his sister in Baltimore. But no matter where he was, Lawrence did his best in school. He joined the marching band, interned at John’s Hopkins hospital, and he graduated as the valedictorian of his high school class. (Applause.)

And I share this story -- there are so many like them -- because as I travel across the country, I meet so many kids just like Lawrence. Kids who wake up early and take the long route to school to avoid the gangs. Kids who juggle afterschool jobs to support their families and then stay up late to get their homework done. Kids whose parents don’t speak a word of English, but who are fighting every day to realize their dream of a better life. (Applause.)

These kids have every reason to give up. They have every reason to give up, but they don’t because they are so hungry to succeed. They are so desperate to lift themselves up. And that’s why we’re here today -- because those kids never give up, and neither can we. (Applause.)

So between now and November, we need to be energized for them. We need to be inspired for them. We need to pour everything we have into this election so that they can have the opportunities they deserve to build a better life.

And here is what I know: As First Lady of the United States, I have learned that if we do that, if we take all our energy and passion and caring and good intention, and we pour it into this election, and we bring others along with us, then I know that we can keep on making that change we believe in. I know that we can elect Mike Michaud as governor of Maine. And I know that, together, we can build a future worthy of all our children.

Thank you all so much. Good luck. We are with you every step of the way. Don’t get tired. We love you. Thank you. (Applause.)

END 
P.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady at a Voter Mobilization Rally -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Center
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

4:41 P.M. CDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Wow!  (Applause.)  I’m so excited to be in Milwaukee today!  (Applause.)  

Let me start -- let me begin --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  I love you, Michelle!  (Applause.)

MRS. OBAMA:  I love you.  And I love our dear friend, the next governor of Wisconsin, Mary Burke.  (Applause.)  I love her.  This is the first time I’ve met Mary, although she is all the buzz -- she is.  But let me tell you, from our interaction, I love her.  (Applause.)  She is smart.  She’s in this for the right reasons.  She cares about people.  She doesn’t care about politics.  She has been such a passionate champion for our kids and families here in Wisconsin.  

Back when she was a top executive of a global company, she volunteered as a mentor for two little boys -- I love this story -- and that experience inspired her to pursue a career in public service -- much like me and the President.  (Applause.)  She then went on to lead the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Madison, raising millions of dollars to help thousands of underserved kids in the state. 

She became Wisconsin’s Secretary of Commerce, supporting small businesses across the state.  She founded, as she said, an education program to close the achievement gap -– a program that sent more than 90 percent of the young people on to higher education, many of them the first in their families to go to college.  (Applause.)   

So why wouldn’t I be here for Mary Burke?  (Applause.)  Why wouldn’t I come here for this amazing woman?  Make no mistake about it:  Mary knows how to create jobs, how to give our young people the skills they need to fill those jobs.  And she knows that a strong middle class is the key to a strong economy here in Wisconsin.  (Applause.) 

And that’s where her heart is -- Mary’s heart is with hardworking families and with kids who are hungry to fulfill their boundless potential.  And as Governor, that’s who she’s going to be fighting for every single day.  So I am proud, so honored to be here for Mary today.  And I am so proud to support her as the next governor of the great state of Wisconsin.  (Applause.) 

Now, I also want to recognize your outstanding Congresswoman, Congresswoman Gwen Moore.  (Applause.)  There she is!  And she’s got her cute little granddaughter here who eats here vegetables, which I love.  (Laughter.)  I’m glad they could both be here. 

But most of all, I want to thank all of you -- gosh, you guys are so fired up!  I love it!  (Applause.)  And I know as I look over this room, I many old friends here today –- people who have been with us right from the very beginning.  (Applause.)  I love that you are here for Mary Burke -- I love that!  (Applause.)  You were here back when we were out in Iowa and New Hampshire talking about hope and change and getting all fired up and ready to go.  You remember that?  (Applause.)  And then you all were with us when Barack first took office.  (Applause.)  Yes, well he took office and took a good look at the mess he’d been handed, and wondered what on Earth he had gotten himself into.

Let me just take you back for a moment, because I want you to remember how bad things were back then.  Remember -- because sometimes we forget.  We were in full-blown crisis mode.  Our economy was literally on the brink of collapse.  Wall Street banks were folding.  Businesses were losing 800,000 jobs a month.  Folks on TV were panicking about whether we were headed for another Great Depression –- and that wasn’t just talk, that was a real possibility.  I could go on, but this is what Barack Obama walked into on day one as President.

So now, let’s move forward.  Now, let’s think about how things look today, less than six years later.  Listen to me:  Our businesses have created 10 million new jobs since 2010, which is the longest uninterrupted run of private sector job growth in our nation’s history.  (Applause.)  Last year, the number of children living in poverty decreased by 1.4 million –- the largest drop since 1966.  And right now, our high school graduation rate is at a record high, and more of our young people are graduating from college than ever before.  (Applause.) 

Manufacturing is growing.  Construction and homeownership are rebounding.  And today, because of the Affordable Care Act -- (applause) -- because of the Affordable Care Act, health care costs are growing at the slowest rate in history, and we’ve seen a 26 percent drop in the uninsured rate as millions more Americans finally have health insurance.  (Applause.) 

And I want you to just think about how different our country looks to children growing up today.  Think about how our kids take for granted that a black person or a woman can be President of the United States of America.  (Applause.)  Our kids take for granted that their President will end hurtful policies like “don’t ask, don’t tell” and speak out for equality.  (Applause.)

So, Wisconsin, today, when folks ask me whether I still believe everything we said about hope and change back in 2008, I tell them that I believe it more strongly than ever before -- because I’ve seen it with my own eyes.  (Applause.)  I’ve seen our veterans finding jobs as our nation proudly supports their transition to civilian life.  I’ve seen children getting better nutrition and growing up healthier.  I’ve seen young people from the most underserved areas reaching higher and going to college, and reaching back to their communities to bring others along.  So, yes, while we still have plenty of work to do, we have truly made so much of that change we were talking about. 

But here’s what I want you to remember --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  I love you, Michelle!  (Applause.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  I love you all.  That’s why we are going to keep working.  We are going to get Mary into office.  We are going to work!  (Applause.)  We are going to work. 

See, because Barack didn’t do all of that just sitting alone in the Oval Office.  He did it with the help of outstanding leaders in states across this country -– leaders who are working hard to create good jobs and invest in our schools, who believe in education; leaders who support women and families by raising the minimum wage; leaders who are fighting for equal pay; leaders who are supporting women’s rights to make our own decisions about our health care.  (Applause.)  That’s the kind of leadership people here in Wisconsin deserve.  And that’s why we need to support Mary Burke for Governor.  (Applause.) 

You see, I know Mary understands that there is nothing we wouldn’t do for our children -- nothing.  We always put our kids’ interests first.  We wake up every morning, go to bed every night thinking and worrying about their health, their happiness, their futures.  And we deserve leaders like Mary who will do the same. 

We deserve leaders who believe like we do that no matter how our kids start out in life, if they’re willing to work for it, they should have every opportunity to fulfill their boundless promise.  (Applause.)  They should have every opportunity to get a good education, and build a decent life for themselves and an even better life for their own kids.  That’s the American Dream we all believe in, and that’s what this election here in Wisconsin is all about.  That’s what’s at stake.

And make no mistake about it, as Mary said, this race is going to be tight.  We know that races like this can be won or lost by just a few thousand or even just a few hundred votes.  And just think back to what happened in the governor’s race back in 2010.  The outcome of that election was decided by about 62,000 votes.  And while that might sound like a lot, when you break it down, that’s about 10 votes per ward -- that’s right, just 10 votes per ward.

Now, I know that every single one of you in this room knows 10 people that you can get to the polls, right?  That’s how I want you to think about this.  It is that close.  So when people act like their vote doesn’t count, every vote counts.  Let’s be clear:  This election is on us.  (Applause.)  We can’t wait around for anyone else to do this.  It’s on us to get people energized and organized and out to vote on November the 4th.  That’s on us.

Now, it’s true that there is too much money in politics.  And it is true that special interests have too much influence.  But here’s what I want you to remember:  They had plenty of money and influence back in 2008 and 2012 and we still won those elections.  (Applause.)  And you want to know why we won?  There’s a reason why we won -- we won because we showed up and we voted.  (Applause.)  And at the end of the day, the folks running those special interest groups, the folks who poured millions of dollars into those election, they each have just one vote -- and so do each of us.  That’s how it works in America.

And ultimately, the only thing that counts are those votes.  That’s what decides elections in this country.  And that’s why Barack Obama is President right now.  (Applause.)  He is our President because a whole bunch of folks who never voted before showed up to vote in 2008 and 2012.  (Applause.)   

And I don’t know if you remember, but a lot of people were shocked when Barack won because they were counting on folks like us to stay home.  But we proved them wrong.  (Applause.)  Barack won because record numbers of women and minorities and young people showed up to vote.  That’s why we won.  (Applause.) 

But here’s what happens -- but then when the midterms come along, too many of our people just tuned out.  And that’s what folks on the other side are counting on this year, because when we stay home, they win.  So they’re assuming that we won’t care.  They’re assuming that we won’t be organized and energized.  And only we can prove them wrong.

And that’s where all of you come in.  Look at this room -- just think about the power that is in this room.  And I know you could multiply this across the state, this energy.  We need you out there every day between now and November 4th.  We need you knocking on doors -- this is the work that gets it done -- knocking on doors, making calls -- don’t underestimate that -- getting everyone you know out to vote for Mary Burke. 

And I’m going to be real prescriptive here.  I want you to start, for those of you who haven’t been involved, just to go the website BurkeForWisconsin.com.  All right, young people, get those things out that you have -- whatever you do.  (Laughter.)  Help the older folks in your lives if they don’t know how to do it -- BurkeForWisconsin.com –- and then click on “take action.”  That’s where you can sign up to volunteer and find the campaign office closest to you.  Or you can just find one of the folks here today with clipboards.  Where are our clipboard people?  Raise your hands, hold them up!  Find your clipboard -- there are people here right now to help you get signed up and get out there and vote.

And then on Election Day, when you head to the polls to vote for Mary, bring everyone you know along with you -- no, really.  Bring folks from your family, from your neighborhood, from your church –- don’t leave anyone behind.  And start reaching out to those folks today.  Tell them to mark November 4th on their calendars.  Tell them that they’ve got just a little over a month until Election Day.  And we all need to be as passionate and as hungry for this election as we were back in 2008 and 2012.  (Applause.)

In fact, we need to be more passionate and more hungry, because races like this governor’s race here in Wisconsin will be even harder and even closer than those presidential elections.  But they are just as important.  And the stakes this year simply could not be higher.  

Because if we don’t show up at the polls this November, if we don’t elect leaders like Mary Burke who will put people first instead of just fighting for special interests, then we know exactly what will happen.  We can’t pretend like we don’t know.  We will see more folks interfering in women’s private decisions about our health care.  We will see more folks denying that climate change even exists.  We will see more votes against immigration reform and raising the minimum wage for hard-working folks. 

So I don’t want you to be surprised.  I want to be very clear:  If you think people who work 40 or 50 hours a week shouldn’t have to live in poverty in the wealthiest nation on earth; if you don’t want women’s bosses making decisions about their birth control; if you think women should get equal pay for equal work; if you want your kids to have quality preschool and the college education they need to fill their potential -- then you need to step up.  You need to get everyone you know out to vote this November.

That’s what’s at stake in this election –- the kind of country we want to leave for our kids and grandkids.  See, because those kids are counting on us to stand up for them this November.  I know these kids; you know these kids.  They’re kids like a young man I met, Lawrence Lawson.  I could tell so many stories -- I’m going to share this one.

Lawrence is a young man whose father died when he was just eight years old.  At the age of nine, Lawrence suffered a major seizure and had to learn to read and walk and speak again.  When he was 12, his mother died, and Lawrence was passed from his aunt in Atlanta to his sister in Baltimore.

But why I tell this story is that this young man, no matter where he was or what he was going through, Lawrence did his best in school.  He joined the marching band.  He interned at Johns Hopkins hospital.  And he graduated as the valedictorian of his high school class. 

And I tell this story because as I travel across this country, I meet so many kids just like Lawrence -- kids who wake up early and take the long route to school to avoid the gangs; kids who juggle afterschool jobs to support their families, stay up late to get their homework done; kids whose parents don’t speak a word of English, but who are fighting every day to realize their dream of a better life.  (Applause.)

These kids have every reason to give up.  They have every reason to give up, but they are so hungry to succeed.  They are so desperate to lift themselves up.  And that’s why we’re here today -– because those kids never give up, and neither can we.  We cannot give up on them.

So between now and November, we need to be energized for our kids.  We need to be inspired for them.  We need to pour everything we have into this election so that they can have the opportunities they need to build the future they deserve.

And if we do that -- if we all keep stepping up and bringing others along with us -- then I know that we can keep on making that change we believe in.  I know we can elect Mary Burke as governor of Wisconsin.  And I know that together, we can build a better future for all our kids.

Thank you so much.  God bless.  (Applause.)

END
5:03 P.M. CDT