Remarks by the First Lady at a Campaign Event

University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, Virginia

4:48 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Wow!  (Applause.)  Thank you all so much.  Wow!  (Applause.)  Oh, my goodness.  Thank you all so much. 

Look, this is a big thrill for me.  But before I get started I do want to take a moment -- I did this at my last to stop -- to say, truly, how heartbroken Barack and I are about the horrific tragedy that occurred earlier this week in Libya.  I’m not sure if everyone is aware, but our hearts and prayers are with the families of those who gave their lives serving our country. 

I mean, the thing to remember, that these brave Americans and so many men and women just like them, they are the face of American diplomacy.  They are public servants who represent our country in other countries around the world, and oftentimes they do it in harm’s way.  And they do it with the same kind of courage and grace that we see every day in this country, and we just wanted to take the time to say that we are so proud of them and their families, and we’re grateful for their service and sacrifice.  (Applause.) 

Now, I have to start by thanking Erin, who is awesome.  (Applause.)  I mean, first of all she’s tall, which -- she’s got me right there.  I love that.  (Laughter.)  But we’re so proud, not only for her kind introduction, but the sacrifice that she and her family are making and have made for this country.  Let’s give Erin a round of applause.  (Applause.) 

A few other thank-yous.  I want to say thank you to Mayor Greenlaw, who is here today, for her leadership and service.  (Applause.)  And I want to recognize Adam Cook, who is running for Congress, who I know is going to make an outstanding member of Congress.  (Applause.) 

And most of all, I want to thank all of you.  Wow, what a great crowd.  Thank you all for joining us.  Thanks for being here.  (Applause.)  And I think anyone can see that you all are pretty fired up.  (Applause.)  Pretty ready to go!  (Applause.)  Well, that’s good, because after the convention down in Charlotte last week, I’m feeling pretty fired up and ready to go myself.  (Applause.)

Last week, we had the pleasure of hearing from folks like President Clinton, Vice President Biden.  (Applause.)  And they did a phenomenal job reminding us how much we’ve accomplished, how much is at stake, and why we need to reelect my husband for four more years.  (Applause.) 

AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!

MRS. OBAMA:  With your help.  With your help, we will get it done.  (Applause.)

But my job in Charlotte I consider was pretty simple.  I had the pleasure and the honor of talking about the man I have loved and admired for 23 years, and why I decided to marry him.  (Applause.)  That was good for me.  (Laughter.) 

Now, let me just explain, ladies:  When I first met Barack, he had everything going for him.  He really did.  He was handsome.  (Applause.)  Still is.  (Applause.)  He was charming, talented, and oh-so smart.  (Applause.)  But that is not why I married him.  What truly made me fall in love with Barack really was his character.  Understand this -- it was his decency, his honesty, his compassion, his conviction.  (Applause.)  See, I loved that Barack was so committed to serving others that he turned down high-paying jobs and instead started his career working to get folks back to work in communities where a steel plant had shut down and jobs had dried up. 

I loved that Barack was devoted to his family, especially the women in his life.  (Applause.)  Yes.  That made a difference.  I see a lot of young men out there -- this is what we pay attention to.  (Laughter and applause.)  I saw the respect that he had for his own mother, how proud he was that she put herself through school while supporting him and his sister as a single mom.  (Applause.)  I saw the tenderness that he felt for his grandmother.  I saw how grateful he was that long after she should have retired, she was still waking up every morning and catching a bus to her job at a community bank to help support his family.  And he watched as she was passed over for promotions simply because she was a woman.  But he saw how she kept on doing that same job, year after year, without complaint or regret.

And with Barack, I found a real connection, because in his life, I saw so much of my own.  Growing up on the South Side of Chicago -- (applause) -- South Side -- I watched my father make that same uncomplaining journey every day to his job at the city water plant.  I saw how he carried himself with that same dignity, that same pride in being able to provide for his family, that same hope that his kids would one day have opportunities he never dreamed of.

And like so many families in this country, see, our families simply weren’t asking for much.  They didn’t begrudge anyone else’s success.  No, they didn’t mind if others had much more than they did.  In fact, they admired it.  They simply believed in that fundamental American promise that even if you don’t start out with much, if you work hard and do what you’re supposed to do, then you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids.  (Applause.) 

And they believed that when you’ve worked hard and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you don’t slam it shut behind you.  No, you reach back and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.  (Applause.) 

That’s how Barack and I and so many of you were raised.  Those are the values we were taught.  We learned that how hard you work matters more than how much you make.  (Applause.)  We learned that the truth matters, so you don’t take shortcuts, you don’t game the system, you don’t play by your own set of rules.  And we learned that no one gets where they are on their own; that each of us has a community of people who are lifting us up -- from the teachers who inspire us to the janitors who keep our schools clean.  (Applause.) 

And we were taught to treat everyone with value, and everyone with respect.  We learned about citizenship and service, that we’re all part of something bigger than ourselves; that with our freedoms come obligations, and with our blessings come a duty to give back to others who have less.  See, these are the values that make Barack such an extraordinary husband and partner to me, but more importantly, such a phenomenal father to our girls.  (Applause.) 

But I talked about Barack’s values last week not just as a wife and a mother, but also as a First Lady who has seen up close and personal what being President really looks like and just how critical those values are for leading this country.  (Applause.)  See, over the past three and a half years, I’ve seen how the issues that come across a President’s desk are always the hard ones -- the decisions that aren’t just about the bottom line, but about laying a foundation for the next generation. 

I’ve seen how important it is to have a President who doesn’t just tell us what we want to hear, but who tells us the truth even when it’s hard, especially when it’s hard.  (Applause.)  I’ve seen that when it comes time to make those tough calls, when everyone’s urging you to do what’s easy or what polls best or what gets good headlines, as President you need to truly be driven by the struggles, hopes and dreams of all of the people you serve.  (Applause.)  As President, you need a strong inner compass and a core commitment to your fellow citizens.  That’s how you make the right decisions for this country.  That’s what it takes to be a leader.  (Applause.)  

And since the day he took office -- on issue after issue, crisis after crisis -- that’s what we’ve seen in my husband.  We’ve seen his values at work.  We’ve seen his vision unfold.  We’ve seen the depths of his character, courage and conviction.  I mean, think back to when Barack first took office and this economy was on the brink of collapse.  Newspapers were using words like “meltdown,” "calamity” -- declaring “Wall Street Implodes,” “Economy in Shock.” 

For years, folks had been lured into buying homes they couldn’t afford.  Their mortgages were underwater.  Banks weren’t lending, companies weren’t hiring.  The auto industry was in crisis.  The economy was losing 800,000 jobs every month and a lot of folks wondered whether we were headed for another Great Depression. 

See now, that's what Barack faced on day one as President.  (Applause.)  But instead of pointing fingers or placing blame, Barack got to work, because he was thinking about folks like my dad and like his grandmother.  And that’s why he cracked down on lending abuses, so that today when you apply for a mortgage or a credit card, you know exactly what you’re getting into.  (Applause.)  

That's why he cut taxes for small businesses and working families -- because he believes teachers and firefighters shouldn’t pay higher tax rates than millionaires and billionaires.  (Applause.)  Not in America.  (Applause.)  

He got the auto industry back on its feet.  And, today, new cars are rolling off the line at proud American companies like GM.  (Applause.)  And, yes, while we still have a long way to go to rebuild our economy, we have had 30 straight months of private sector job growth -- a total of 4.6 million new jobs, good jobs right here in the United States of America.  (Applause.)

When it comes to the health of our families, Barack didn’t care whether health reform was the easy thing to do politically -- that's not who he is -- he cared that it was the right thing to do.  (Applause.)  And, today, because of health reform, our parents and grandparents on Medicare are paying hundreds less for their prescription drugs.  (Applause.)  Our kids can stay on our insurance until they’re 26 years old.  (Applause.)  Insurance companies now have to cover basic preventative care like contraception, cancer screenings with no out of pocket cost.  (Applause.)  They won’t be able to discriminate against you because you have a pre-existing condition like diabetes or asthma.  (Applause.) 

And let's say you have a serious illness like breast cancer.  That's when you need expensive treatment.  They can no longer tell you, sorry, you’ve hit your lifetime limit and we’re not paying a penny more.  No longer can they do that.  (Applause.)   

And understand that Barack fought for these reforms because he believes that here in America, no one should ever go broke just because of an accident or an illness.  That’s what he stands for.  (Applause.)

When it comes to giving our kids the education they deserve, Barack knows that like me and like so many of you, he never could’ve attended college without financial aid -- never.  In fact, as I shared in my convention speech, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage.  So when it comes to student debt, believe me, Barack and I, we have been there. 

And that’s why Barack doubled funding for Pell Grants and fought so hard to keep interest rates down -- (applause) -- because he wants every young person in this country -- every one of them -- to get an education without a mountain of debt.  He wants all of our young people to have the skills they need for the jobs of the future, jobs you can raise a family on -- good jobs right here in the United States of America.  (Applause.)

And finally, when it comes to understanding the values of women, when it comes to standing up for our rights and our opportunities -- (applause) -- yes, indeed -- we know that my husband will always have our backs, because Barack knows from personal experience what it means for a family when women aren’t treated fairly in the workplace. 

He knows what it means when women struggle to meet the demands of their jobs and the needs of their families.  And believe me, today, as a father, he knows what it means to want our daughters to have the same freedoms and opportunities as our sons.  (Applause.) 

And that’s why the very first bill he signed as President was to help women get equal pay for equal work.  (Applause.)  That’s why he’s worked so hard to support women-owned small businesses.  And that’s why he will always, always fight to ensure that women can make our own decisions about our bodies and our health care.  (Applause.)  That’s what my husband stands for.

So when people out there ask you what this President has done for our country, when they’re deciding who will keep moving America forward for four more years, here’s what I want you to tell them: I want you to tell them about the millions of jobs Barack has created.  Tell them about the health reform he’s passed.  Tell them about all those kids who can finally afford college. 

Tell them how Barack ended the war in Iraq -- (applause) -- how we took out Osama bin Laden.  Tell them how we fought to get veterans and military families the benefits they’ve earned.  (Applause.)  Yes, indeed.

Tell them about all those young immigrants brought to America through no fault of their own, and how they will no longer be deported from the only country they’ve ever known.  (Applause.) 

Tell them how our brave men and women in uniform will never again have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love.  (Applause.)  And please, please make sure they understand that their President, that Barack Obama knows the American Dream because he’s lived it, and he is fighting every day so that everyone in this country can have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we’re from, or what we look like, or who we love.  (Applause.)  

And let’s be clear -- while my husband is proud of what we have all achieved together, believe me, her is nowhere near satisfied.  Barack knows that too many people are still hurting.  Believe me, he knows that there’s plenty of work left to be done.  And as President Clinton said last week, it’s going to take a lot longer than four years to rebuild an economy from the brink of collapse.  (Applause.)   

But what I know for sure, what I can tell you that your President is doing since the day he took office, Barack has been fighting for us.  He has been struggling with us.  And together, slowly but surely, we have been pulling ourselves out of the hole that we started in.  For three and a half years, we’ve been moving forward and making progress, and we’re beginning to see that change we all can believe in.  (Applause.)  That I know for sure.

So we have to ask ourselves this -- here’s the question: Are we going to turn around and go back to the same policies that got us into the hole in the first place?

AUDIENCE:  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  Are we going to just sit back and watch everything we’ve worked for just slip away?

AUDIENCE:  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  Or are we going to finish what we started and keep moving this country forward?  (Applause.)  Forward!

But in the end, here’s the thing -- the answers to these questions is up to us -- because all our work, all the progress that we’ve made, believe me, it is all on the line, it’s all at stake this November.  And as my husband has said, this election will be even closer than the last one -- that’s the only guarantee.  And it could all come down to what happens in just a few battleground states like Virginia.  (Applause.)

And let me help put it in perspective.  When you think back to what happened in this state in 2008, back then we won Virginia by 235,000 votes.  (Applause.)  And that may sound like a lot, but when you break it down, that’s just 100 votes per precinct.  Think about that -- 100 votes.  That could mean just a couple of votes in your neighborhood, right?  That could be just 1 extra vote in your own apartment building, right?

So for anyone here or anyone that you know who might be thinking that their vote doesn’t matter; if you're thinking that your involvement doesn’t count, that in the complex political process, ordinary folks can't possibly make a difference -- if anyone is thinking like that, I just want to you to think about those 100 votes. 

I want you to think about how, with just a few evenings on a phone bank, with just a few weekends knocking on some doors, just a few of you here today –- shoot, look at this room.  (Applause.)  This room alone could swing an entire precinct for Barack Obama.  (Applause.)  And if we win enough precincts, we will win this state.  And if we win Virginia, we'll be well on our way to putting Barack back in the White House for four more years.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years! 

MRS. OBAMA:  Four more years!  Four more years! 

So here's the charge -- direct charge coming from your First Lady -- (applause) -- from now until November, we need every single one of you to work like you've never worked before.  We need you to talk to everyone you know -- your friends, your neighbors, that nephew you haven't seen in a while, that high school classmate you stopped speaking to -- find them.  (Applause.)  Tell them what's at stake.  Bring them to events like these.  More importantly, make sure they're registered, especially our young people.  (Applause.)   Yes, indeed, make sure you're registered to vote.  (Applause.)

And think about it -- if you're a student that’s moved away, you might have to figure out -- you might have to reregister.  If you just moved, you might have to reregister.  If you've never voted before, you may need to register.  (Laughter.)  And then, once folks are registered, make sure they get to the polls and cast their ballots on Election Day.  (Applause.) 

And we've got tools to help.  You can send them to our websites -- GottaRegister.com, GottaVote.com.  There, you can find everything you need right online.  I know young people, you guys are online anyway.  (Laughter.)  Clicking and texting and all that stuff -- help the older people out.  (Laughter.)  Find someone; help them get to the site.  But that’s the best place to start to make their voices heard on November the 6th.

And I'm going to be honest with you all -- because I always try to be honest -- this journey is going to be long.  Count on that.  And it is going to be hard.  But when you start to get tired -- and you will -- when you start to think about taking a day off -- and some of you might need to take a day off -- I want you to remember that what we do for the next 54 days will absolutely make the difference between waking up the day after Election Day and asking ourselves, could we have done more, or feeling the promise of four more years.  (Applause.)  That is the difference.

So we need you to keep working and struggling and pushing forward.  (Applause.)  We need you to do everything between now and November 6th.  Because we have to remember, that’s how change always happens in this country.  But if we keep showing up -- that’s the trick -- if we keep fighting that good fight, then eventually we get there.  We always do.  But maybe not in our lifetimes -- maybe in our children's lifetimes.  Maybe in our grandchildren's lifetimes.  (Applause.) 

Because in the end, that’s what this is all about.   That’s why we're here.  That’s what elections are always about.  Don’t let anybody tell you differently -- elections are always about hope.  The hope that I saw in my dad's beaming face as I crossed the stage to get my college diploma.  The hope Barack's grandmother felt as she cast her ballot for the grandson she loved and raised.  The hope of all those men and women in our lives who worked that extra shift, who saved and sacrificed and prayed so that we could have something more.  The hope that so many of us have when we look into the eyes of our kids and our grandkids. 

That’s why we're here -- because we want to give all of our kids in this country that foundation for their dreams.  All of our kids deserve opportunities worthy of their promise.  We want to give our children in this country that sense of limitless possibility; that belief that here in America -- the greatest country on the planet -- there is always something better out there if you're willing to work for it -- always.  (Applause.)  That’s who we are. 

So no, no, we cannot turn back now.  Not -- no way.  We have come so far, but we have so much more to do.

So let me ask you this: Are you fired up?  (Applause.)  Are you ready to go?  (Applause.)  All right, then.  Let's get to work. 

I love you all.  God bless. 

END 
5:22 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady and Dr. Biden at a Service Project

Charlotte Convention Center
Charlotte, North Carolina

10:22 A.M. EDT

MRS. BIDEN:  Good morning.  I just want to thank you all for coming and helping today.  And thank you so much to the USO, who always does such wonderful things for our troops.  Michelle and I are inspired every day by the courage and the strength and resilience of our military families, and we’ve had the honor of working together to help promote programs for our military.  So we’re working hard, right, Michelle?
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Yes, indeed.  A lot of progress.
 
MRS. BIDEN:  So, anyway, I’d like to introduce our First Lady, Michelle Obama, who was worked tirelessly for our military families.  So thank you, Michelle.  (Applause.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Thanks, Jill.  All right, so this is really good because I see a lot of my friends and family who are here -- actually working, which is a very good thing.  (Laughter.)  As Jill said, we are delighted to be here.
 
This has become a convention tradition.  And it’s also become kind of a friends-and-family tradition that when we come together for big events like this, that we find ways to give back.  I know that my brother has brought his entire team to D.C. and we’ve done work in food pantries, and I just want to thank you all for taking the time to be a part of giving back, even at a time when we’re focused on the Party and the President and speeches.  Events like this remind us really why we’re here, why we’re doing this.
 
And I want to echo Jill in thanking the USO, because they’ve been just a phenomenal partner.  I mean, the truth is we can shine a spotlight on the service and sacrifice of our military families, our veterans, our servicemembers, but organizations like the USO are doing the hard work on the ground every single day, and they prop us up in so many ways.  So let’s give them a round of applause.  (Applause.)
 
And I also just want to take a second to thank somebody who is here, a behind-the-scenes kind of guy -- Steve Kerrigan, who has been the CEO for the convention, who has done -- (applause) -- Steve has done an amazing, amazing job.  This has been a phenomenal few days here in Charlotte.  (Applause.)  And I want to thank you and your team for putting together an excellent several days here.
 
Today, this service project caps off 4,000 hours of community service, and that was part of what Steve and the rest of the organizers wanted to make sure.  When we come into a city like this, we take it over.  (Laughter.)  We inconvenience people.  We make it hard for people to walk around and breathe and get to work. 
 
So our view was that while we’re here on the ground -- and the team has been here on the ground for months.  Everybody who has worked on the convention has made a commitment to give back to this community in varying ways, and we’ve surpassed our goal of 4,000 hours of service to the Charlotte community.  And I am very proud of our team for making that commitment and achieving that accomplishment.  (Applause.)
 
So you all are helping us to continue that goal.  And again, thank you.  I hope you’re having fun.  Kids, I hope you all working -- (laughter) -- doing some work.  So Jill and I are going to come out there and join you.
 
Thanks so much.  Take care.  (Applause.) 
 
END
10:26 A.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady to the Hispanic Caucus at the Democratic National Convention

Charlotte Convention Center
Charlotte, North Carolina

11:47 A.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, my goodness!  (Applause.)  I'm still thrilled.  I'm a little sleepy.  (Laughter.)  But I'm so happy to be here today.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)

I want to start by thanking Iris for not just that very kind introduction, but it's true -- she says she's "just" a state senator.  Let me just make clear, Barack Obama was weaned on "state senator."  He got here because he learned how to do it, doing what Iris has been doing.  (Applause.)  So we're so proud, I'm so proud of you, Iris.  It's so wonderful to see you.  And just keep doing what you're doing.  Let’s give her another round of applause.  (Applause.)

So how about that opening night last night?  (Applause.) Yes, the energy, the enthusiasm that we saw last night -- it really made it clear that folks are pretty fired up and ready to go -- (applause) -- which is a -- it's a very good thing.  But more importantly, last night truly set the stage for what’s at stake in this election -- we can't overlook that -- and what we need to do to guide us forward for these next four years.

The evening really reflected Barack's broad, inclusive vision for this country as a place where every single one of us has something very unique and very special to contribute, and we should all have a fair chance to make it in this country if we’re willing to work for it -- which I know we are.  (Applause.)  

So today, I'm not going to talk long because I talked a lot last night.  (Applause.)  But I want to say thank you all for the critical role that you play in making that vision a reality.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Love you, Michelle!

MRS. OBAMA:  Love you -- love you, babe.  Love you so much.  (Applause.)

But I want to thank you for everything that you all do every single day to lift up our communities.  You all are doing that hard work -- that hard work on the ground to keep moving this country forward -- whether it’s building good schools that prepare our kids for good jobs and good opportunities -- (applause) -- and all of our kids deserve that opportunity; whether it's passing health reform so that families don’t go broke because someone gets sick; whether it’s helping folks stay in their homes; or fighting for the DREAM Act -- (applause) -- so that all of our children have opportunities worthy of their dreams and their promise.

And all of our kids are worthy.  That's what my husband knows.  My husband has been working hard to build a ladder to the middle class for all Americans, so that we can all go as far as our talent and our hard work can take us.

And I know that’s why all of you are here today -- you came here not just to this convention, but to this caucus, because you know that all of that is at stake in this election.  It's all on the line.   

And I know you’re here today because you believe, like I believe, that my husband has been an extraordinary President -- (applause) -- and that he has the vision, the character, the wisdom, the courage, the experience to keep moving this country forward for the next four years. 

But make no mistake about it -- this election is about even more than just the issues at stake right now.  And it’s about even more than the candidates that are on the ballot this year.  This election, more than anything else and more than any other in history, is about how we want our democracy to function for decades to come.  I mean, think about it.  It’s about the lessons we want our kids and grandkids to learn as they watch these campaigns and they see those election results on November 6th. 

So we have to step back and ask ourselves, do we want to give the message that a few individuals have a far bigger say in our democracy than everybody else?

AUDIENCE:  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  Do we want our elections to be all about who buys the most ads on TV?

AUDIENCE:  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  Do we want our kids and grandkids to walk away from this election feeling like regular folks can no longer be heard?

AUDIENCE:  No!

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Yes!  (Laughter.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  Or -- it's a little confusing.  (Laughter.)  We got excited on this side.  (Laughter.)  But I know -- we're with you!  No, we don't!  (Applause.)

Or are we going to show them that here in America, we all have an equal voice in the voting booth -- (applause) -- and we all have a say in this country’s future, and a bottom-up, grassroots movement of people who love this country can always come together to move it forward?  What do we want to do? 

AUDIENCE:  Forward!

MRS. OBAMA:  But make no mistake about it, with every call that you make, understand -- because this is where the work comes in, right?  We can give good speeches and be all enthusiastic, but the bottom line is the work.
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  And with every call you make, with every door you knock on, with every voter you register, you all are providing the answers to those questions.  You all are providing it.  You all are making a powerful statement about how we want our democracy to work. 

And by taking part in the democratic process that for more than two centuries has made America the greatest country on Earth, you all are helping to preserve that legacy for generations to come.  That’s also what this is about.

So we don’t have a single minute to waste.  We truly don’t. Time is of the essence.  We’re going to need all of you to work like you’ve never worked before.  No, I mean really work like you’ve never worked before.  (Applause.)  We’re going to need every single one of you to get out there every, single day between now and November 6th --

AUDIENCE:  We’ve got your back!  (Applause.)

MRS. OBAMA:  And I know you do.  And I have seen it.  Truly, I have seen it.  I’ve been out there.  I’ve been working hard, traveling around the country.  And let me tell you, we have a first-rate campaign.  I am so proud of our campaign.  (Applause.)

We have thousands of offices all over the country -- thousands of them -- millions of volunteers working hard, team leaders making calls every single day.  The work on the ground -- we have so many ways for people to get involved in this campaign. So if you’re wondering, well, if I haven’t taken that step, what do I do?  Simple:  Go to barackobama.com -- simple -- barackobama.com today.  And sign up to get involved.  Roll up your sleeves and get something done.  (Applause.)

And you all know that this election is about those battleground states.  So don’t worry if you don’t see a lot of action in your state because you’re not in a battleground state. This is about the battleground states so -- but if you don’t live in a battleground state, then get to one.  (Laughter and applause.)  Yes, get to a battleground state.  Find one near you. Get to a battleground state.  (Applause.)  

If you can afford to write a check, then write a check.  If you’ve written a check and you haven’t maxed out, max out.  (Laughter and applause.) 

But more importantly, the real power comes from you as individuals.  Make sure that every single person you know within the reach of your arm, within the sound of your voice -- all your friends, your neighbors, that nephew you haven’t seen since Christmas, that college roommate you haven’t spoken to, congregation members, whoever it may be -- make sure every, single one of them gets to the polls and casts their votes. 

Because, as Barack said, this election is going to be even closer than the last one.  And all elections in this country are close -- they have been since I have been paying attention.  They’re always close.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We’ve got to make Ohio blue!

MRS. OBAMA:  Make it blue!  Make it blue!  Make it blue!  (Applause.)

But understand -- I try to help people put this in perspective because in the end this election could come down to those last few thousand votes in some of those key battleground states like Ohio.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Virginia!

MRS. OBAMA:  And Virginia. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Florida!

MRS. OBAMA:  And Florida.  We can name them all!

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Nebraska!

MRS. OBAMA:  I’m not sure about Nebraska, but -- (laughter) -- we want every vote in Nebraska that we can get. 

But just think back to 2008.  Back then we won Florida by 236,000 votes.  (Applause.)  And while that might sound like a lot, that’s just 36 votes per precinct.  We’ve done those numbers, because it’s important to understand just how crucial every little bit means -- 36 votes.  You can picture that -- 36 votes.  And if you think that’s close, don’t forget that we won North Carolina by just 14,000 votes.  (Applause.)  And that’s just five votes per precinct -- five!

So starting the minute you get up out of these chairs, we need you to get out there and get those 36 votes.  We need you to get those five votes.  And then when you get those five, get five more.  And after that, keep getting five.  Because we all know -- we all know somebody, right?  (Applause.)  We all know five people.  We all know 36 people among all of us that can make the difference in the election. 

And we need you to do that work and don’t stop until the polls close on November 6th.  Because what you all do every day for the next 62 days will make the difference between us waking up on November 7th and asking ourselves, could we have done more -- or feeling the promise of four more years.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!

MRS. OBAMA:  Four more years!

AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!

MRS. OBAMA:  With your help.  With your help. 

So I guess I don’t have to ask you, are you fired up? 

AUDIENCE:  Fired up!

MRS. OBAMA:  Are you ready to go?

AUDIENCE:  Ready to go!

MRS. OBAMA:  Are you ready to roll up your sleeves?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  Work harder than you’ve never worked before?  We can get this done. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Si, se puede!

MRS. OBAMA:  Si, se puede!

AUDIENCE:  Si, se puede!

MRS. OBAMA:  And I look forward to working with all of you all on the campaign trail.  Get out there.  Let’s get it done.

Thank you all.  God bless.  (Applause.)

END
12:00 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady at the Democratic National Convention

Time Warner Cable Arena
Charlotte, North Carolina

September 4, 2012
10:38 P.M. EDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you so much. 
 
AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  With your help.  With your help.  (Applause.) 
 
Let me start -- I want to start by thanking Elaine.  Elaine, thank you so much.  We are so grateful for your family’s service and sacrifice, and we will always have your back.  (Applause.)
 
Over the past few years as First Lady, I have had the extraordinary privilege of traveling all across this country.  And everywhere I’ve gone, and the people I’ve met, and the stories I’ve heard, I have seen the very best of the American spirit.  I have seen it in the incredible kindness and warmth that people have shown me and my family, especially our girls.
 
I’ve seen it in teachers in a near-bankrupt school district who vowed to keep teaching without pay.  (Applause.)  I’ve seen it in people who become heroes at a moment’s notice, diving into harm’s way to save others; flying across the country to put out a fire; driving for hours to bail out a flooded town.  
 
And I’ve seen it in our men and women in uniform and our proud military families.  (Applause.)  In wounded warriors who tell me they’re not just going to walk again, they’re going to run, and they’re going to run marathons.  (Applause.)  In the young man blinded by a bomb in Afghanistan who said, simply, "I’d give my eyes 100 times again to have the chance to do what I have done and what I can still do."
 
Every day, the people I meet inspire me.  Every day, they make me proud.  Every day, they remind me how blessed we are to live in the greatest nation on Earth.  (Applause.)
 
Serving as your First Lady is an honor and a privilege.  But back when we first came together four years ago, I still had some concerns about this journey we’d begun.  While I believed deeply in my husband’s vision for this country, and I was certain he would make an extraordinary President, like any mother, I was worried about what it would mean for our girls if he got that chance.  How will we keep them grounded under the glare of the national spotlight?  How would they feel being uprooted from their school, their friends, and the only home they’d ever known?
 
See, our life before moving to Washington was filled with simple joys -- Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at Grandma’s house, and a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted mom, I couldn’t stay awake for both.  (Laughter.)
 
And the truth is, I loved the life we had built for our girls, and I deeply loved the man I had built that life with -- and I didn’t want that to change if he became President.  (Applause.)  I loved Barack just the way he was.
 
You see, even back then, when Barack was a senator and a presidential candidate, to me, he was still the guy who picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted out, I could actually see the pavement going by in a hole in the passenger side door.  (Laughter.)  He was the guy whose proudest possession was a coffee table he’d found in a dumpster, and whose only pair of decent shoes was a half size too small.  (Laughter.)
 
But, see, when Barack started telling me about his family -– see, now, that’s when I knew I had found a kindred spirit, someone whose values and upbringing were so much like mine.
 
You see, Barack and I were both raised by families who didn’t have much in the way of money or material possessions but who had given us something far more valuable -- their unconditional love, their unflinching sacrifice, and the chance to go places they had never imagined for themselves.  (Applause.)
 
My father was a pump operator at the city water plant, and he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when my brother and I were young.  And even as a kid, I knew there were plenty of days when he was in pain, and I knew there were plenty of mornings when it was a struggle for him to simply get out of bed. 
 
But every morning, I watched my father wake up with a smile, grab his walker, prop himself up against the bathroom sink, and slowly shave and button his uniform.  And when he returned home after a long day’s work, my brother and I would stand at the top of the stairs of our little apartment, patiently waiting to greet him, watching as he reached down to lift one leg, and then the other, to slowly climb his way into our arms.
 
But despite these challenges, my dad hardly ever missed a day of work.  He and my mom were determined to give me and my brother the kind of education they could only dream of.  (Applause.) 
 
And when my brother and I finally made it to college, nearly all of our tuition came from student loans and grants.  But my dad still had to pay a tiny portion of that tuition himself.  And every semester, he was determined to pay that bill right on time, even taking out loans when he fell short.  He was so proud to be sending his kids to college, and he made sure we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late.
 
You see, for my dad, that’s what it meant to be a man.  (Applause.)  Like so many of us, that was the measure of his success in life -- being able to earn a decent living that allowed him to support his family.
 
And as I got to know Barack, I realized that even though he had grown up all the way across the country, he’d been brought up just like me.  Barack was raised by a single mom who struggled to pay the bills, and by grandparents who stepped in when she needed help.  Barack’s grandmother started out as a secretary at a community bank, and she moved quickly up the ranks, but like so many women, she hit a glass ceiling.  And for years, men no more qualified than she was -- men she had actually trained -- were promoted up the ladder ahead of her, earning more and more money while Barack’s family continued to scrape by.
 
But day after day, she kept on waking up at dawn to catch the bus, arriving at work before anyone else, giving her best without complaint or regret.  And she would often tell Barack, "So long as you kids do well, Bar, that’s all that really matters."
 
Like so many American families, our families weren’t asking for much.  They didn’t begrudge anyone else’s success or care that others had much more than they did -- in fact, they admired it.  (Applause.)  They simply believed in that fundamental American promise that, even if you don’t start out with much, if you work hard and do what you’re supposed to do, you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids.  That’s how they raised us (Applause.)  That’s what we learned from their example.
 
We learned about dignity and decency -- that how hard you work matters more than how much you make; that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.  (Applause.)  We learned about honesty and integrity -- that the truth matters -- (applause) -- that you don’t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules; and success doesn’t count unless you earn it fair and square.  (Applause.)  We learned about gratitude and humility -- that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean.  (Applause.)  And we were taught to value everyone’s contribution and treat everyone with respect.
 
Those are the values that Barack and I -- and so many of you -- are trying to pass on to our own children.  That’s who we are.
 
And standing before you four years ago, I knew that I didn’t want any of that to change if Barack became President.  Well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being President doesn’t change who you are -- no, it reveals who you are.  (Applause.)
 
You see, I’ve gotten to see up close and personal what being President really looks like.  And I’ve seen how the issues that come across a President’s desk are always the hard ones -- the problems where no amount of data or numbers will get you to the right answer; the judgment calls where the stakes are so high, and there is no margin for error.  And as President, you're going to get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people.  But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as President, all you have to guide you are your values and your vision, and the life experiences that make you who you are.  (Applause.) 
 
So when it comes to rebuilding our economy, Barack is thinking about folks like my dad and like his grandmother.  He’s thinking about the pride that comes from a hard day’s work.  That’s why he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work.  (Applause.)  That’s why he cut taxes for working families and small businesses, and fought to get the auto industry back on its feet.  (Applause.)   
 
That’s how he brought our economy from the brink of collapse to creating jobs again -- jobs you can raise a family on, good jobs right here in the United States of America.  (Applause.) 
 
When it comes to the health of our families, Barack refused to listen to all those folks who told him to leave health reform for another day, another President.  (Applause.)  He didn’t care whether it was the easy thing to do politically -- no, that’s not how he was raised.  He cared that it was the right thing to do.  (Applause.)
 
He did it because he believes that here in America, our grandparents should be able to afford their medicine, our kids should be able to see a doctor when they’re sick, and no one in this country should ever go broke because of an accident or an illness.  (Applause.)   
 
And he believes that women are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies and our health care.  (Applause.)  That’s what my husband stands for.  (Applause.) 
 
When it comes to giving our kids the education they deserve, Barack knows that, like me and like so many of you, he never could have attended college without financial aid.  And believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bill was actually higher than our mortgage.  (Laughter.)  Yeah, we were so young, so in love -- and so in debt.  (Laughter.) 
 
And that's why Barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down -- (applause) -- because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.  (Applause.)  
 
So in the end, for Barack, these issues aren’t political -- they’re personal.  Because Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.  He knows what it means to want something more for your kids and grandkids.  Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it.  (Applause.)  And he wants everyone in this country -- everyone -- to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we’re from, or what we look like, or who we love.  (Applause.)   
 
And he believes that when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you.  No, you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.  (Applause.)   
 
So when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, I can honestly say that when it comes to his character, and his convictions, and his heart, Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago.  (Applause.)  He’s the same man who started his career by turning down high-paying jobs and instead working in struggling neighborhoods where a steel plant had shut down, fighting to rebuild those communities and get folks back to work -- because for Barack, success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.  (Applause.)   
 
He’s the same man, when our girls were first born, would anxiously check their cribs every few minutes to ensure that they were still breathing -- (laughter) -- proudly showing them off to everyone we knew. 
 
You see, that’s the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, patiently answering questions about issues in the news, strategizing about middle school friendships.  (Laughter.) 
 
That’s the man I see in those quiet moments late at night, hunched over his desk, poring over the letters people have sent him.  The letter from the father struggling to pay his bills, from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won’t cover her care, from the young person with so much promise but so few opportunities. 
 
I see the concern in his eyes and I hear the determination in his voice as he tells me, "You won’t believe what these folks are going through, Michelle -- it’s not right.  We’ve got to keep working to fix this.  We’ve got so much more to do."  (Applause.)
 
AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  I see how those stories -- our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams -- I see how that's what drives Barack Obama every single day. 
 
And I didn’t think that it was possible, but let me tell you, today I love my husband even more than I did four years ago, even more than I did 23 years ago, when we first met.  (Applause.)  Let me tell you why.  See, I love that he has never forgotten how he started.  I love that we can trust Barack to do what he says he’s going to do, even when it’s hard -- especially when it’s hard.  (Applause.)   
 
I love that for Barack, there is no such thing as "us" and "them" -- he doesn’t care whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican, or none of the above; he knows that we all love our country.  And he is always ready to listen to good ideas, he’s always looking for the very best in everyone he meets. 
 
And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we’re all sweating it -- when we’re worried that the bill won’t pass, and it seems like all is lost -- see, Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.  No, just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward -- with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace.  (Applause.)    
 
And he reminds me that we are playing a long game here, and that change is hard and change is slow, and it never happens all at once.  But eventually we get there.  We always do. 
 
We get there because of folks like my dad, folks like Barack’s grandmother -- men and women who said to themselves, "I may not have a chance to fulfill my dreams, but maybe my children will, maybe my grandchildren will."
 
See, so many of us stand here tonight because of their sacrifice, and longing, and steadfast love -- they swallowed their fears and doubts and did what was hard.  (Applause.) 
 
So today, when the challenges we face start to seem overwhelming -- or even impossible -- let us never forget that doing the impossible is the history of this nation.  It is who we are as Americans.  It is how this country was built.  (Applause.)
 
And if our parents and grandparents could toil and struggle for us -- if they could raise beams of steel to the sky, send a man to the moon, connect the world with the touch of a button -- then surely we can keep on sacrificing and building for our own kids and grandkids, right?  (Applause.) 
 
And if so many brave men and women could wear our country’s uniform and sacrifice their lives for our most fundamental rights, then surely we can do our part as citizens of this great democracy to exercise those rights.  Surely we can get to the polls on Election Day and make our voices heard.  (Applause.)
 
If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire, if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores, if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote, if a generation could defeat a depression and define greatness for all time, if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream -- (applause) -- and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love -- (applause) -- then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.  (Applause.)
 
Because in the end, more than anything else, that is the story of this country -- the story of unwavering hope grounded in unyielding struggle.  That is what has made my story, and Barack’s story, and so many other American stories possible.
 
And let me tell you something.  I say all of this tonight not just as First Lady, no, not just as a wife.  You see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still "mom-in-chief." (Applause.)  My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world. 
 
But let me tell you, today, I have none of those worries from four years ago -- no, not about whether Barack and I were doing what was best for our girls.  Because today, I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters -- and for all of our sons and daughters, if we want to give all of our children a foundation for their dreams and opportunities worthy of their promise, if we want to give them that sense of limitless possibility -- that belief that here in America, there is always something better out there if you’re willing to work for it -- (applause) -- then we must work like never before.  (Applause.) 
 
And we must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward -- my husband, our President, Barack Obama.  (Applause.) 
 
Thank you.  God bless you, and God bless America.  (Applause.) 
 
END
September 4, 2012
11:03 P.M. EDT