REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT A CAMPAIGN EVENT

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Springfield, Massachusetts

MRS. OBAMA:  Yay!  (Applause.)  All right.  You guys are already fired up.  I can go home.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  You all, rest yourselves, rest yourselves.  Let me check the mic -- can you all hear me? 

AUDIENCE:  Yes.

MRS. OBAMA:  Is everybody good?  All right, I just wanted to make sure.  Since I’m going to be talking, I want to make sure you can hear me, right?  (Laughter.)

Let me tell you, I am beyond thrilled to be with all of you this afternoon.  Your warmth, your enthusiasm, it really fills me up; it fills up me and Barack.  So it means a lot. 

I want to start by thanking Tom for that very kind and very moving introduction, for me at least.  He’s just been a true supporter, he and his family, and we’re just so grateful.  I also want to thank Nicole as well for all of her hard work, as both of them have been terrific hosts for this event.  So let’s give them a round of applause.  (Applause.)

And I want to thank my dear friend, Governor Patrick.  He’s meeting me, I think, at the next event, but he was here.  I want to thank my new buddy -- I don’t think you realize -- Grant Hill.  I mean, we were hanging out at the Opening Ceremonies.  (Laughter.)  I want to adopt you as my younger brother, all right?  (Laughter.)  I won’t say son yet.  I don’t think I’m that old.  (Laughter.)  But he is an amazing individual, and we had a terrific time.  Thank you, thanks for being here, and thanks for your words earlier. 

I know that State Auditor Suzanne Bump is here, and I want to thank her for joining us.  There she is.  (Applause.)  And Mayor Sarno is here as well.  I got a chance to say hello to him.  Thank you, Mayor, for being here as well.  Thank you for your kind words of support.  Not sure if he’s still here, but he was.

And finally, of course, I want to thank all of you for taking time to join us today.  And I know that all of you are busy.  Every time I come to these things I’m amazed at how much people are -- time people are willing to take out of their lives.  Because I know folks have jobs to do; we’ve got young people who have got classes to attend; people are investing and raising their families. 

So I know that it takes something to come out and be here.  Even if we all know we support Barack Obama, it’s still time out of your busy lives.  But I also know there’s a reason why all of you are here, and it’s not just because we support what I think we all agree is an outstanding President of the United States, my husband, Barack Obama.  (Applause.)  And I know you’re not just here because you want to win an election -- which I know we will indeed win.  (Applause.)

We’re all here, investing ourselves in this way, because of the values we believe in.  I say this everywhere I go, because I think it’s important for people to understand what this is all about.  This is about our values.  We’re doing this because of the vision for this country that we all share.  We’re doing this because we believe that in America, everyone should have a fair shot.  And that means that all of our kids -- not some of them; all of them -- should be able to go to good schools, should be able to attend college without a mountain of debt. 

We believe that everyone in this country should do their fair share.  That means that teachers and firefighters shouldn’t pay higher tax rates than millionaires and billionaires.  Not in this country.  (Applause.)  We believe that if you work hard, you shouldn’t go bankrupt because someone gets sick.  You shouldn’t lose your home because someone loses a job.  And after a lifetime of hard work, you should be able to retire with dignity and security.

And what I remind people is, these are basic American values, right?  This is the foundation of this country.  They’re the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself.  And I share my story everywhere I go because I’m proud of where I came from.  My father was a pump operator at the city water plant in Chicago -- many people know that already.  But neither of my parents had a college degree.  But what my folks did for us is that they saved for us, and they sacrificed everything; they poured everything they had into me and my brother so that we could get the kind of education and have the kind of opportunities they could only dream of. 

Education was everything in my family.  It was our ticket to the middle class.  It was our pathway to the American Dream.  And when my brother and I finally made it to college, pretty much all of our tuition came from student loans and grants, like so many people.  But my dad still had to pay a small portion of that tuition himself.  And let me tell you, every semester my father was determined to pay his little portion, and to pay it on time.  He was so proud to be sending his kids to college, and he made sure that we never had to miss a registration deadline because his check was late.  Like so many people in this country, my father took great pride in being able to earn the kind of living that allowed him to handle his responsibilities to his family -- to pay his bills and to pay them on time.  That’s all my father wanted.  That’s it.

My dad’s life is a testament to that basic American promise that no matter who you are in this country, or how you started out, if you work hard, you can build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids.  And let me tell you something, my husband understands that promise because that’s his story as well.  That’s why I married him.  (Laughter.) 

He’s the son of a single mother who struggled to pay the bills and put herself through school.  He’s the grandson of a woman who woke up before dawn to catch a bus to her job at the bank.  And even though Barack’s grandmother worked hard to help support his family, and she was good at her job, like so many women she hit that glass ceiling and saw men no more qualified than she was be promoted up that ladder ahead of her.  But let me tell you something that Barack saw -- a woman that never complained.  No, she never complained.  She just kept getting up, giving her best every single day to help support her family.

So what I remind people is that Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.  This is not a hypothetical for him.  He knows what it means to work hard because you want something better for your kids and your grandkids.  And like me, and like all of you, Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it.  And he believes that when you’ve worked hard, and you’ve done well, and you’ve walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you.  Not in America.  You reach back and you give other folks a chance to succeed as well.  (Applause.) 

And more than anything else, that’s why we’re here.  That’s what this election is all about.  That’s what’s at stake -- it’s that dream, that fundamental American promise.  And let me just tell you, from now until November -- what is it, 95, 96 -- can’t keep count, how many days?

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Ninety-five.

MRS. OBAMA:  Ninety-five -- 95 days.  We are going to need all of you to get out there and tell everyone you know about your President.  Tell them about his values.  Tell them about our vision and about the choice we face in this election.  That’s what we need from you.

This election is a choice about our economy.  It’s about building a strong and growing middle class.  So I want you to remind folks that Barack has cut taxes for working families by $3,600, and he has cut taxes for small businesses 18 times -- 18 times.  Because what your President understands is that building our economy starts with the restaurants and the stores and the startups that create two-thirds of all new jobs in this economy.  That’s what we need you to do.

And I want you to be sure to remind people how, back when Barack first took office, this economy was losing an average of 750,000 jobs every single month.  That’s what awaited him after the inauguration.  But I also want you to remind people that for the past 29 straight, consecutive months, we’ve actually been gaining private sector jobs -- more than 4.5 million jobs under this administration.

So, yes, while we have a long way to go to rebuild this economy, people should understand that, today, millions of people are collecting a paycheck again; millions of people like my dad are able to pay their bills again.

But this election is also a choice about the health of our family.  I mean, the fact is that over the past century -- understand this:  Over the past 100 years, so many of our Presidents have tried and failed to meet the challenge of health care reform.  But let me tell you something, your President was determined.  That’s the difference.  He was driven by the stories of the people he’d met -- the grandparents who couldn’t afford their medications; the families going broke because a child got sick; the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company wouldn’t cover her care.  And that’s what kept him going day after day.  That’s why he fought so hard for this historic reform.

And today, because of this reform, our parents and grandparents are paying hundreds less for their prescription drugs.  Our kids can stay on our insurance until they’re 26 years old, so they don’t lose their health care when they graduate and they’re just starting out, trying to build a life. 

Because of this reform, insurance companies now have to cover basic preventative care -- things like contraception, cancer screenings, prenatal care, at no extra cost.  (Applause.)  They can’t discriminate against you because you have an illness that they call a preexisting condition.  (Applause.)  And if you get really sick -- something real serious like breast cancer -- and you need real expensive treatment, your insurance company can no longer tell you, sorry, you’ve hit your lifetime limit and we’re not paying a penny more.  No longer.  Because of this reform that is now illegal.

But make no mistake about it, this November we get to decide.  Are we going to see these reforms repealed?  Or do we want the people we love to have the care they need?  That’s our choice.  That’s what this is about.

This election is a choice about whether our kids can attend college without a mountain of debt.  I mean, what I’ve shared with people is that when Barack and I were first starting out, and we were so in love, building a life together -- (laughter) -- we’re still in love -- (laughter) -- we are; I love him -- (laughter and applause) -- but when we were young, just starting out, our combined student loan bill each month was actually higher than our mortgage.  And that is not uncommon, unfortunately. 

So when it comes to student debt, my husband and I, we’ve been there.  And that’s why Barack doubled funding for Pell Grants and fought so hard to stop interest -- loan rates from rising.  Because he wants all our young people to be able to get the education they need for the jobs and career options they deserve. 

Your President wants all of our kids to fulfill their promise in this country.  And that’s why he’s been fighting so hard for the DREAM Act.  I mean, think about this:  He is fighting for responsible young people who came to this country as children, through no fault of their own, and were raised as Americans because he believes that these young people, too, deserve the chance to go to college, to contribute to our economy -- yes -- and serve the country that they love.  All of our kids deserve this promise.  (Applause.)

This election is also a choice about keeping our country safe.  So I want you to remind people that after 10 long years of war -- 10 long years, where we’ve seen our men and women in uniform sacrificing, serving, giving their lives -- finally, Osama bin Laden is no longer a threat to this country.  I want you to remind people.  (Applause.)

You can also remind people that Barack kept his promise to bring our troops home from Iraq, and he’s been working very hard to make sure that they get the benefits and the support that they’ve earned.  (Applause.)

And today, our troops no longer have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love because Barack finally ended “don’t ask, don’t tell.”  (Applause.)

This election is also a choice about supporting women and families in this country.  So please, please, be sure to tell people that Barack believes firmly that women should be able to make our own choices about our health care, plain and simple.  (Applause.) 

Remind them that it’s now easier for women to get equal pay for equal work because Barack signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act -- the first bill he signed into law as President of the United States.  (Applause.) 

And finally, remind people about those two brilliant Supreme Court Justices he appointed and how, for the first time in history, our daughters and sons watched three women take their seat on our nation’s highest court.  (Applause.)

I could go on.  (Laughter.)  So when folks ask you what this President has done for our country, why don’t you tell them about how many jobs he’s created.  Tell them how much money he’s put back in the pockets of American people.  Tell them that more of our kids can afford college; more of our seniors can afford their medicine.  Remind folks how he ended the war in Iraq, passed historic health reform, and stood up for our most fundamental, basic rights again and again and again.  That’s what you tell them.  (Applause.)

But also remind them that all of that -- all of it and so much more -- all of it’s at stake.  It’s all on the line in November.  That’s the choice we face.  Are we going to continue the change we’ve begun and the progress we’ve made?  Or are we going to just sit by and allow everything we fought for to just slip away?  Who are we?  We know what we need to do -- I hope we do.  We can’t turn back now.  This country needs to keep moving forward.  Forward.

And more than anything else, that’s what we’re working for.  Hopefully, that’s why you’re here -- the chance to finish what we’ve started; the chance to keep fighting for the values that we believe in and the vision for this country that we all share.  This is our vision.  And that’s what my husband has been doing every single day as President of the United States.

And let me share something with you.  As First Lady, I have had the privilege for the last three and a half years to see up close and personal what being President really looks like.  And I’ve seen some things.  (Laughter.)  But most importantly, I’ve seen how the issues that come across a President’s desk are always the hard ones -- running for President is the easy part; how the problems that a President faces has no easy solutions; the judgment calls where the stakes are so high, and there is no margin for error. 

But as President, I’ve seen how you’re going to get all kinds of advice, all kinds of opinions from all kinds of people.  But let me tell you, at the end of the day, when it’s time to make that decision, as President, all you have to guide you are your life experiences.  All you have to guide you are your values -- is your vision for this country.  Let me tell you something, in the end, what I have learned is that it all boils down to who you are and what you stand for. 

And what I remind people is, we all know who my husband is, don’t we?  And we all know what he stands for.  And we have seen again and again just how hard he’s willing to fight for us.  I mean, remember when Barack -- back in Washington, folks were telling him to let the auto industry go under -- you remember that? -- with more than a million jobs on the line.  That’s the advice he was getting.  But fortunately, your President had the backs of American workers.  He put his faith in the American people.  And fortunately, as a result, today, the auto industry is back on its feet again, and more importantly, people are back at work collecting a paycheck, taking care of their families. 

Remember how folks were telling Barack not to take on health care?  You remember that?  I certainly do.  They said, leave it for another day, another President.  Just keep kicking that can down the road.  That’s what they told him.  But fortunately, Barack had the backs of American families.  And as a result, today, millions of people in this country can finally see a doctor when they’re sick; they can get the care that they need to stay well.

So when it comes time to stand up for the middle class so that our kids can go to college and our families can make a decent living and save for retirement, you know what my husband is going to do, right?  When we need a President to protect our most basic rights, no matter who we are or where we’re from or what we look like or who we love, you know you can count on this President because that is what he’s been doing every single day.

But I have said this before and I will say it again and again:  He cannot do this alone.  That was never the promise.  Barack has said this election is going to be closer than ever before.  And what I try to remind people is that, in the end, it could all come down to those last few thousand votes. 

I mean, think about it -- think about those small number of votes spread out over an entire state, across hundreds of cities and thousands of precincts.  So what I try to get people to imagine is that that one new voter that you register in your precinct, that one neighbor that you help get to the polls on November the 6th, that could be the one that makes the difference in this election.  That’s how I’m trying to get you all to think.  That one conversation -- don’t take for granted that one volunteer that you recruit.  That could be the one that puts us over the top.  That could be the difference, as Tom said, of waking up on November 7th and asking yourself, “Could I have done more?”, or feeling the promise of four more years.  It’s as simple as that.

And that’s one of the reasons why we launched this new effort called “It Takes One,” because I’m trying to get people to think about multiplying themselves.  It takes one -- it’s a simple concept.  Every time you take an action to move this campaign forward, we want you to inspire just one more person to step in there with you.  I mean, think about it, it’s not enough that you do it; bring one more person. 

So if you’re making phone calls, bring somebody along.  If you’re knocking on doors, find that neighbor that is not involved, that’s not focused.  If you’re writing a check, find somebody to write another check.  (Laughter.)  When you’re voting early or on Election Day, find that person that may not make it to the polls.  Bring them with you.  Everyone counts -- that one friend, that one colleague, that one person in your family.  Everybody has one.  Shake them up.  Shake them up!  (Applause.) 

This is not a passive process.  Send them to barackobama.com/one.  They don’t even have to leave their house to get involved with the campaign.  And you can get started right now.  I mean, I’m an action-oriented kind of First Lady -- (laughter) -- so I want you to think about signing up with one of our grassroots volunteers who are with us today.  Sign up.  We want you to get to work.  We’ve going to need every single one of you to join us.

It’s like Barack has always said:  It just takes one voice to change a room.  And if a voice can change a room, it can change a city.  And if it can change a city, it can change a state.  And if it can change a state, it can change a nation.  That’s what this election is about.  That is the power of one -- the one act you can do to keep moving this country forward. 

And I’m not going to kid you, because I never do.  This election is going to be long.  It’s getting shorter by the moment, but it doesn’t feel that way to me.  (Laughter.)  And it’s going to be hard, and there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way.  But what I remind people is that that’s how change always happens in this country.  That’s how it always happens.  Real change takes time, requires patience.  But if you keep showing up, if we keep fighting that good fight and doing what we know is right, then eventually we’ll get there, because we always do.  We have never gone backwards in this country.  Maybe not in our lifetimes, though, but maybe in our children’s lifetimes; maybe in our grandchildren’s lifetimes.

Because in the end, what I remind myself is that’s what this is about.  This is not about us.  It’s about them.  In the end, that’s what elections are always about.  Don’t let anybody tell you differently -- elections are always about hope.  They’re about our hopes for our children.  They’re about the world that we want to leave behind for them, the next generation. 

And that’s what I think about every night when I kiss my girls and put them to bed.  I think about how I want to do for them what my dad did for me, what Barack’s mother and grandmother did for them.  I want to give my daughters, and all of our sons and daughters, a foundation for their dreams -- a solid foundation.  I want to give them opportunities worthy of their promise.  All these kids are worthy -- all of them.  I want our children in this country to have that sense of limitless possibility -- the belief that here in America, there is always something better if you’re willing to work for it.  That’s why we’re here.

So let me just tell you this:  We have come too far.  We cannot turn back now.  We owe more to our kids than that.  But we have so much more work to do. 

So I have one final question to ask you, after all of my talking.  (Laughter.)  Are you in?  (Applause.)  No, I’m not sure how in you are.  Yes, is that you’re kind of in, or are you all the way in?  (Applause.)  We need you to be fired-up kind of in.  We need you to be actively and passionately engaged in the process of getting this done.  We need you to be fired up and shaking everybody in your lives, whether they’re here in this state or outside.  We need you to remind them why we’re here, what we’re fighting for.  That’s the kind of in we need you to be.  Are you in?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.)

You all, thank you so much.  Let’s get it done.  God bless.  (Applause.)

Remarks by the First Lady at a Campaign Event

Private Residence
Holderness, New Hampshire

1:50 P.M. EDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you all so much.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  You all, please, rest, rest.  It’s warm, and I want you really well rested so you can get out there and work.  (Laughter.) 
 
I am truly thrilled to be with all of you this afternoon.  I want to thank Gary and Meg and the entire family for opening up their home.  It’s a beautiful home.  It’s a beautiful lake.  I just wish I could stay.  (Laughter.)  But you all are true friends, wonderful supporters, and I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for us over the years.  And we look forward to working with you more on lots of good things, okay?
 
I also want to recognize the Governor.  Where are you?  Where did he go?  (Laughter.)  Sir, thank you.  It’s good to see you.  And we are just so grateful for your tremendous leadership and strength, particularly over the past few weeks and months.  As Gary said, out thoughts and our prayers remain with the people of Colorado, and anything we can do -- I’ll be spending a lot of time in this state, so you’ll get sick of me.  (Laughter.)  So let’s give him a round of applause as well.  (Applause.)
 
And I also want to recognize your two House candidates, and two of my dear, dear friends that I got to know over the course of the last campaign -- got to know them really well -- you know, girls, we would hang out.  We did some great stuff.  Carol and Annie, you guys are amazing.  Where is Carol?  There you are.  You all, thank you so much.  I know you’re going to get it done, right?  We need you.  (Applause.)  As I was telling Gary and Meg, what happens in Congress is just as important as what happens in the White House, so we need you all there.
 
I also want to say hello to Sylvia Larsen as well, the State Senator who is here.  Sylvia, thank you so much.  And my dear friend, our Finance Chair, Jane Stetson -- Jane is here.  There, Jane -- how could I miss you?  (Applause.)  She’s doing an amazing job -- amazing job.
 
And finally, again, I want to thank all of you for taking the time to be here.  And I know that all of you all are busy people.  We are all busy in our lives.  We’ve got jobs to do.  There are young people here who have classes to attend, summer fun to have, families to raise.  So I know taking the time out is meaningful, but I also know that there’s a reason why all of us are here today, and it’s not just because we support what I believe is one extraordinary, awesome President of the United States -- my husband.  (Applause.)  And yes, I am biased -- just a little bit -- but I think our President is phenomenal.  And we’re not just here because we want to win an election -- and I know that we do, and I know that we will. 
 
We’re here because of the values we believe in.  This is what I tell people when I travel around the country.  We’re here because of our values.  We’re here because of the vision for this country that we all share.  We’re doing this because we believe that everyone in this country should have a fair shot, and what that means, for example, is all of our children should have good schools, right?  They deserve those schools.  They should be able to attend college without a mountain of debt. 
 
We believe that everyone in this country should do their fair share -- which simply means that teachers and firefighters shouldn’t pay higher taxes than millionaires and billionaires.  Not in America.  (Applause.)  We believe that if you work hard in this country, you shouldn’t go bankrupt just because someone in your family gets sick.  (Applause.)  You shouldn’t lose your home because someone loses a job.  And after a lifetime of hard work, you should be able to retire with some dignity and security.
 
And what I remind people is these are basic American values.  This is nothing new.  This is the foundation of this country and they’re the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself.  I share my story everywhere I go.  And my father was a pump operator at the city water plant in Chicago.  And neither of my parents had the opportunity to get their college degrees. 
 
But my parents saved.  My parents sacrificed for us.  They poured everything they had into me and my brother so that we could get the kind of education and have the kind of opportunities they could only dream of.  And education was everything for our family.  Education was the ticket to the middle class for us.  It was our pathway to the American Dream.  And when my brother and I finally made it to college, pretty much all of our tuition came from student loans and grants.  But my dad still had to pay a small portion of that tuition himself.  And let me tell you, every semester he worked hard to make sure that he paid his portion on time, because my dad was proud to be able to send his kids to college, and he made sure that we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late. 
 
Like so many people in this country, my father took great pride in earning the kind of living that just allowed him to handle his responsibilities to his family.  That’s all he wanted.  He wanted to be able to pay all of his bills, and pay them on time.  Wasn’t asking for much. 
 
My dad’s life is a testament to that basic American promise that no matter who you are or how you started out, if you work hard in this country, you can build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids.  And my husband understands that promise because that’s his story as well.  That’s why I married him.  That’s why I love him so much:  His story is like mine. 
 
He is the son of a single mother who struggled to pay the bills and put he and his sister through school.  He’s the grandson of a woman who woke up before dawn to catch a bus to her job at the bank.  And even though Barack’s grandmother worked hard to help support their family, and she was good at her job, like so many women she hit that glass ceiling and watched men no more qualified than she was -- men she had actually trained -- climb that ladder ahead of her.  But the one thing Barack always saw -- his grandmother never complained.  Never complained.  She just kept getting up, just kept giving her best every single day to help support his family.
 
So what I remind people is that Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.  This is not a hypothetical for him.  He knows what it means to work hard because you want something better for your kids and your grandkids.  And like me, and like so many of you, Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it.  And he believes that when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that door of opportunity, you don’t slam it shut behind you.  You don’t do that.  You reach back and you give as many folks as possible the chance to succeed as well. 
 
And more than anything else, that’s why we’re here.  That’s what’s at stake in this election -- it’s that dream, that fundamental American promise.  And what I want people to understand is that from now until November -- I think it’s 95 days; I keep losing track -- it’s 90-something -- (laughter) -- we are going to need every single one of you out there, telling everyone you know about Barack’s values.  I want you to tell them about this vision, and tell them about the choice that we face in this election. 
 
This is an election about choices.  This election is a choice about our economy.  It’s about building a strong and growing middle class.  So I want you to remind people that Barack has cut taxes for working families by $3,600.  It’s important for people to understand what he’s done.  He’s cut taxes for small businesses 18 times, because he knows that rebuilding our economy, it starts with the restaurants and the stores and the startups that create two-thirds of all jobs in this country. 
 
And I also want people to remember that back when Barack first took office, this economy was losing an average of 750,000 jobs every single month.  That’s what he walked into.  That’s what welcomed him after that wonderful inaugural parade in the freezing cold.  (Laughter.)  But I also want you to remind people that for the past 28 straight months, we’ve actually been gaining private sector jobs -- a total of more than 4 million new jobs in this economy.  People need to understand that. 
 
So while we still have a very long way to go to rebuild this economy, today, millions of people are collecting a paycheck again.  Millions of people like my dad are able to pay their bills again. 
 
This is also an election that’s a choice about the health of our families.  I mean, the fact is -- and I know that many of you here know that -- that over the past century, the last 100 years, so many Presidents have tried and failed to meet the challenge of health reform in this nation.  But Barack was determined.  Understand that he was driven by the stories of people he’d met -- the grandparents who couldn’t afford their medication, the families going broke because a child got sick, the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company wouldn’t cover her care.  Those are the stories that kept him going every single day. 
 
And that’s why he fought so hard for this historic reform.  And today, because of this reform, our parents and grandparents are paying hundreds less for their prescription drugs.  Our kids can stay on our insurance until they’re 26 years old, so they don’t lose their health care right at the time in their life when they need it most -- when they’re out there trying to build their lives, looking for work. 
 
Because of this reform, insurance companies have to cover basic preventative care -- things like contraception, ladies -- (applause) -- cancer screenings, prenatal care, at no extra cost.  They can’t discriminate against us because we have a preexisting condition.  And if someone gets a serious illness like breast cancer now, and you need expensive treatment, your insurance company 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.  That is now illegal because of health reform.
 
So make no mistake about it, this November we get to decide.  Do we want all of these reforms to be repealed?  Or do we want the people that we love to have the care they need?  It’s our choice.  That’s what this election is about. 
 
This election is also a choice about whether our kids can attend college without a mountain of debt.  Believe it or not, back when Barack and I were first starting out and we were building our lives together -- oh, so in love -- (laughter) -- we still are, not to worry -- (laughter) -- our combined student loan bill each month was higher than our mortgage, all right?  So when it comes to student debt, believe me, Barack and I, we’ve been there.  And that’s why Barack doubled funding for Pell Grants; fought so hard to stop student loan interest rates from rising.  (Applause.) 
 
Because we have a President who wants all young people to get the education they deserve for the jobs they need in this country.  He wants all of our kids -- all of them -- to fulfill their promise, and that is why he’s been fighting so hard for the DREAM Act.  I mean, think about this -- he’s fighting for responsible young people who came to this country as children, through no fault of their own, and were raised as Americans -- they know no other country -- because he believes that these young people also deserve the chance to go to college, the chance to contribute to our economy, the chance to serve the country they know and love.  (Applause.) 
 
This election is also a choice about keeping our country safe.  So I want you to make sure people remember that after 10 long years of war, after so many of our heroic men and women in uniform, they served, they sacrificed, they risked their lives, they lost their lives -- Osama bin Laden is no longer a threat to this country.  People need to remember that also.  (Applause.)
 
And also remind people that Barack kept his promise to bring our troops home from Iraq, and he’s working very hard to make sure they get the benefits and support they’ve earned.  (Applause.)  And today, our troops no longer have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love because Barack finally ended “don’t ask, don’t tell.”  (Applause.) 
 
This election is a choice about supporting women and families in this country.  So I want you to be sure to tell people that Barack believes that women should be able to make our own choices about our health care, plain and simple.  (Applause.) 
 
Also remind them it’s now easier for women to get equal pay for equal work because of the very first bill Barack signed into law, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.  Remind them.  (Applause.) 
 
And finally, you can tell people about those two brilliant Supreme Court Justices Barack appointed -- Elena Kagan and Justice Sonia Sotomayor -- (applause) -- and how, for the first time in history, our daughters and sons watched three women take their seat on our nation’s highest court.
 
So when folks ask you what this President has done for this country, tell them how many jobs he’s created.  Tell them how much money he’s put back in the pockets of American people.  Tell them that more of our kids can afford college; more of our seniors can afford their medicine.  Remind folks how Barack ended the war in Iraq, passed historic health reform, and stood up for our most fundamental rights again and again and again. 
 
And remind them, also, that all of this and so much more -- it’s all at stake.  It’s all on the line.  It’s nothing guaranteed -- it can all be gone.  And that’s the choice we face.  Are we going to continue the change we’ve begun and the progress we’ve made?  Or are we going to just sit here and allow everything we fought for and worked so hard for -- are we just going to let it slip away?  Is that who we are? 
 
No, we know what we need to do.  We cannot turn back now.  Not now.  We need to keep moving forward.  In this country, we keep moving forward.
 
And more than anything else, that’s what we’re working for.  That’s why you’re here -- I hope that’s why you’re here.  The chance to finish what we’ve started; the chance to keep fighting for the values we believe in and the vision we all share.  (Applause.)  And that’s what Barack Obama has been doing every day as President. 
 
And let me tell you, as First Lady, over the past three and a half years I’ve had the chance to see up close and personal what being President looks like.  I’ve seen some things.  (Laughter.)  And I have seen how the issues that come across a President’s desk are always the hard ones -- always.  The problems with no easy solutions -- no matter what anybody says, no matter how much somebody else knows, there are no easy solutions.  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; you’re going to get opinions from everybody all over the place.  (Laughter.)  But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as President, all you have to guide you, truly, are your life experiences.  All you have to lead you are your values -- is your vision for this country.  In the end, it all boils down to who you are as President.  What kind of man are you, what kind of person are you, and what do you stand for -- that’s what it boils down to.
 
And what I remind people is that we all know who my husband is, and we all know what he stands for.  We do.  (Applause.)  And we have seen again and again just how hard he’s willing to fight for us. 
 
I mean, remember when folks in Washington were telling Barack to let the auto industry go under, with more than a million jobs on the line?  They said, let it go.  But fortunately, Barack had the backs of American workers.  He put his faith in the American people.  And fortunately, as a result, today, the auto industry is back on its feet again and people are back to work again.  (Applause.) 
 
And remember how there were folks telling Barack not to take on health care.  Remember that?  I do.  (Laughter.)  They said, leave it for another day, another President.  Just keep kicking that can down the road.  That was the advice he got.  But fortunately, Barack had the backs of American families.  And as a result, today, millions of people can finally see a doctor when they’re sick; they can get the care they need to stay well. 
 
So when it comes time to stand up for the middle class so that our kids can go to college and our families can make a decent living and save for retirement, you know what my husband is going to do.  You don’t have to wonder.  When we need a President to protect our most basic rights, no matter who we are or where we’re from or what we look like or who we love, you know you can count on my husband because that’s what he’s been doing every single day as President of the United States.
 
But I have said this before and I will say it again:  He cannot do this alone.  It’s not the kind of President he is.  He needs your help.  Barack has said this election is going to be closer than the last one -- that’s the only guarantee we can give you.  And in the end, it could all come down -- you all know very well in New Hampshire -- to those last few thousand votes.  And while that might not sound like a lot, remember that those votes are spread out across an entire state, across hundreds of cities, thousands of precincts, so that one new voter that you register in your precinct -- that one neighbor that you help get to the polls on November the 6th -- understand that that could be the one that makes the difference. 
 
It’s as simple as a margin of one -- that one conversation that you have; that one new volunteer you recruit.  That could be the one that puts this election over the top.  That could be the difference between waking up on November 7th and asking, “could I have done more?”, or feeling the promise of four more years. 
 
And that’s one of the reasons we started a new effort that we’re calling It Takes One.  And we’re talking to everyone.  It Takes One.  It’s a simple concept.  Every time you take an action to move this campaign forward, we’re asking folks all over the country to inspire just one more person to step up; one more person who has never been a part of the process, isn’t engaged, sitting on the fence.  Get them to step up and do their part. 
 
So if you’re making phone calls, or knocking on a door, writing a check, bring one more friend -- get another check.  (Laughter.)  If you’re coming to an event, bring a neighbor who has never really experienced this campaign, doesn’t know this candidate.  If you’re voting early, or on Election Day, bring one person with you.  This is what we’re asking our people.  This is the kind of campaign we’re running.  Find one friend, one colleague, one person in your family, in your community -- get them to go to barackobama.com/one -- don’t even have to leave your house -- and have them get involved in this campaign. 
 
Because it’s like Barack has always said:  It takes just one voice to change a room.  And if a voice can change a room, it can change a city.  And if it can change a city, it can change a state.  And if it can change a state, it can change a nation.  It’s the power of one -- one person stepping up to move this country forward.  So think about that.
 
And I’m not going to kid you, this journey is going to be long, and it is going to be hard, and there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way.  But we have to remind ourselves, is that that is how change happens.  That’s how real change always happens.  Real change is slow, requires patience.  But if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, then eventually we get there, because we always have -- maybe not in our lifetimes, but maybe in our children’s lifetimes; maybe in our grandchildren’s lifetimes. 
 
Because in the end, I remind myself, that’s what this is about.  In the end, that’s what elections are always about.  Don’t let anybody fool you:  Elections are always about hope -- always about hope.  They’re about our hopes for our children.  They’re about the world we want to leave for them, our next generation.  That’s why we should be here. 
 
And that’s what I think about every night when I’m putting my girls to bed -- I think about how I want to do for them what my dad did for me, what Barack’s mom and grandmother did for him.  I want to give my daughters and all of our sons and daughters a foundation for their dreams.  I want to give them opportunities worthy of their promise, because all of our children in this country are worthy.  I want to give our kids the 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.
 
So we cannot turn back now.  We cannot be tired or frustrated or disappointed.  We have come so far, but we have so much more work to do.  So I have one final question for you in this very distinguished crowd:  Are you in?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.) 
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Are you ready for this?  (Applause.)  And I mean really in, like getting-one-more-person kind of in, like shaking up the people that you know, the folks on the sidelines, the people who are not really quite sure.  Are you ready to be a part of bringing them in this fold and having this election determined, so that we can keep going, moving forward?  We’re going to need you every step of the way.  I am fired up, and I’m counting on you to be right there.  (Applause.)
 
Thank you all so much.  Take care.  (Applause.) 
 
END
2:17 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady at a Campaign Event

University of North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina

1:03 P.M. EDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  Wow!  Are you all fired up?  (Applause.)  Oh, yes!  Let me tell you, I am -- like that precious little one right there -- many precious little ones.  (Applause.)  I am so thrilled to be here, and I am thrilled that I will be coming back here to North Carolina next month for our convention.  Yes!  (Applause.)  It’s going to be so good. 
 
I want to start by thanking Keylin for that very --
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you, Mrs. Obama!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Love you.  Love you back.  Love you back.  (Applause.) 
 
I want to thank Keylin for that very kind introduction.  She told me she was going to get you all fired up and ready to go, and she did, so let’s give her a round of applause.  (Applause.)
 
And I also want to recognize Mayor Foxx for his leadership and his service.  (Applause.)  I also want to give a hello to Wanda and Donovan for joining us here today.  (Applause.)
 
And finally, I want to thank all of you.  I mean, wow -- look at you.  You all are some of our extraordinary volunteers, our organizers.  (Applause.)  Thank you for everything that you do, day in and out, to make this campaign possible.  You all are doing the hard work, knocking on those doors, registering voters -- (applause) -- giving people the information they need about the issues they care about. 
 
And I just want you all to know that the grassroots work that you all are doing to get people focused and fired up -- that work is at the core of this campaign; it is everything.  That’s how we did it four years ago, and that’s how we’re going to do it again today -- with all of you.  So thank you.  (Applause.)
 
And from experience, I know the work that you’re doing -- I know it’s not easy.  I know that you all are leading busy lives, keeping it together.  You’ve got jobs to do.  Hopefully, many of you out there are attending classes, right?  You’ve got -- (applause) -- yes, indeed, our students.  You have families to raise. 
 
But I also know that there’s a reason that all of you are here and all of you are working this hard, and it’s not just because we all support an extraordinarily awesome, phenomenal man, who happens to be my husband and our President.  (Applause.)  I don’t know about you, but our President is phenomenal.  (Applause.)  And, yes, I’m a little biased.  (Laughter.)  And it’s not just because we want to win an election -- which we do, and we will.  (Applause.)
 
We are doing this because of the values we believe in.  That’s why we’re here.  (Applause.)  Yeah.  We’re here because of the vision for this country that we all share.  We’re doing this because we believe that everyone should have a fair shot, and that means that all of our kids should have good schools, right?  (Applause.)  It means all of our kids should be able to go to college without a mountain of debt.  (Applause.)  We believe that everyone in this country should do their fair share -- and that means that teachers and firefighters should not pay higher taxes than millionaires and billionaires.  That’s why we’re here.  (Applause.)  We believe that if you work hard, you shouldn’t go bankrupt because you get sick.  (Applause.)  You shouldn’t lose your home because someone loses a job.  And after a lifetime of hard work, you should be able to retire with a little dignity and a little security.  That’s why we’re here.  (Applause.)
 
You see, and what I tell people everywhere I go:  These are basic American values.  These are the basics.  This is foundation.  They’re the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself.  I share my story everywhere I go because I’m proud of where I came from.  (Applause.)  My father was a pump operator at the city water plant, and neither of my parents had a college degree.  But what they did do -- and I know there are a lot of people here who can relate to this -- they saved, and they sacrificed.  My parents poured everything they had into me and my brother so that we could get the kind of education and have the kind of opportunities they could only dream of, right?  (Applause.)
 
And education was everything in our family.  It was everything.  It was our ticket to the middle class.  It was our pathway to the American Dream.  And when my brother and I finally made it to college, pretty much all of our tuition came from student loans and grants.  Can I get an Amen? 
 
AUDIENCE:  Amen!  (Applause.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  That’s how most of us go to college.  But my dad still had to pay a tiny portion of that tuition himself.  And every semester, my father was determined to pay his share of that tuition right on time, because he was so proud -- so proud to be sending his kids to college, and he made sure that we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late.  Like so many people in this country, my father took great pride in being able to earn a living that just allowed him to meet his responsibilities to his family -- to handle his business; to pay all of his bills, and to pay them on time.  That’s all my father wanted in life -- small things.  He didn’t want much.  (Applause.)
 
My dad’s life is a testament to that basic American promise that no matter who you are or how you started out, if you work hard, you can build a decent life for yourself and, yes, an even better life for your kids.  (Applause.)  And let me tell you something, your President, my husband, understands that promise because that’s the story of his life as well.  He’s the son of a single mother who struggled to put herself through school and pay the bills.  He’s the grandson of a woman who woke up before dawn every day to catch a bus to her job at the bank.  And even though Barack’s grandmother worked hard to help support his family, and she was good at her job, like so many women, she hit a glass ceiling, and men no more qualified than she was -- men she had actually trained -- were promoted up the ladder ahead of her.
 
But let me tell you something -- what he saw is that his grandmother never complained.  How many people do we know like that in our lives?  She just kept getting up.  She just kept giving her best every single day to help support her family. 
 
So, trust me, Barack Obama knows what it means when a family struggles.  He knows what it means to work hard because you want something better for your kids and your grandkids.  This is not a hypothetical.  Like me, and like so many of you, Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it.  And he believes that when you’ve worked hard and you’ve done well and you’ve walked through the doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you.  You reach back, and you give other folks a chance to succeed as well.  (Applause.)
 
See, and more than anything else, that’s what’s at stake in this election.  That’s what this is about.  It’s that dream that’s at stake; that fundamental American promise.  And let me just say, from now until November -- focus with me -- we are going to need all of you -- all of you -- to get out there and to tell everyone you know -- tell them about Barack’s values.  Let them know.  (Applause.)  Tell them about his vision.  And let them know about the choice we face in this election.  They have to know.
 
This election is a choice about our economy.  It’s about building a strong and growing middle class.  So I want you to remind folks that Barack has cut taxes for working families by $3,600.  Cut them.  (Applause.)  And also people need to understand he has cut taxes for small businesses 18 times.  That’s what he’s done.  (Applause.)  Because Barack understands that rebuilding our economy starts with the restaurants and the stores and the startups that create two-thirds of all new jobs in this economy.  Let them know.
 
And I want you to remind people how, back when Barack first took office, what welcomed him after the inauguration was an economy that was losing an average of 750,000 jobs every single month.  That’s what he inherited.  But also let them know that for the past 28 straight months, we’ve actually been gaining private sector jobs -– a total of more than 4 million new jobs in the last two and a half years.  Let them know.  (Applause.)
 
So while, yes, we still have a long way to go to rebuild this economy, today there are millions of people out there collecting a paycheck again; there are millions of people like my dad who are able to pay their bills again.  Let them know.
 
This election is a choice about the health of our families.  And listen to this -- the fact is that over the past century -- okay? -- 100 years, so many of our Presidents have tried and failed to meet the challenge of health reform.  But your President was determined.  (Applause.)  See, but Barack was driven by the stories of the people he met -- the grandparents who couldn’t afford their medications; the families going broke because a child got sick; the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company wouldn’t cover her care.  And that is what kept him going day after day.  That’s why he fought so hard for this historic reform.  (Applause.) 
 
And today, understand that because of this reform, our parents and grandparents are paying hundreds less for their prescription drugs -- thanks to this reform.  (Applause.)  Because of this reform, our children can stay on our insurance until they’re 26 years old.  (Applause.)  So they don’t have to lose their health care when they graduate and they’re out there looking for a job, trying to build their lives.  Because of this reform, insurance companies have to cover basic preventative care -- things like cancers screenings, prenatal care, contraception, at no extra cost.  (Applause.)  Today, they cannot discriminate against you because you have an illness that they call a preexisting condition.  (Applause.)  And if you get a serious illness, like breast cancer, and you need expensive treatment, your insurance company can no longer tell you, sorry, you’ve hit your lifetime limit and we’re not paying a penny more.  No longer.  (Applause.)  Thanks to this reform, that is now illegal.  (Applause.)
 
So make no mistake about it, this November, we get to decide:  Do we want these reforms to be repealed?
 
AUDIENCE:  No!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Or do we want the people we love to have the care they need?  It’s our choice.  (Applause.) 
 
This election, it’s a choice about whether our kids can attend college without a mountain of debt.  Now, believe it or not, back when Barack and I were first starting out, and we were building our lives together, and we were so in love -- (laughter) -- we still are -- (laughter and applause) -- but our combined student loan bill each month was actually higher than our mortgage.  Now, I know there are people out there who can relate to that.  So, believe me, when it comes to student debt, Barack and I, we’ve been there.  And that is why Barack doubled funding for Pell Grants and fought so hard to stop student loan interest rates from increasing.  (Applause.)  Because he knows how important it is for all of our young people to get the education they need for the jobs they deserve. 
 
He wants all of our kids to fulfill their promise -- all of them.  And that is why he has been fighting so hard for the DREAM Act.  (Applause.)  Listen to this:  He is fighting for responsible young people who came to this country as children, through no fault of their own, and were raised as Americans -- know no other country -- because he believes that these young people also deserve a chance to go to college, to contribute to our economy, to serve the country they know and they love.  (Applause.)  That’s what he believes.
 
This election is also a choice about keeping our country safe.  So I want to remind people that -- and I want you to remind people that after 10 long years of war, and after so many of our heroic men and women in uniform served and sacrificed and gave their lives, Osama bin Laden is no longer a threat to this country.  (Applause.) 
 
And you can remind folks that Barack kept his promise to bring our troops home from Iraq.  (Applause.)  And he’s working hard to make sure that they get the benefits and the support that they’ve earned.  (Applause.)
 
And today, our troops no longer have to lie about who they love to serve the country they love, because Barack finally ended “don’t ask, don’t tell.”  (Applause.)
 
And it’s important to know that this election is a choice about supporting women and families in this country.  (Applause.)  So be sure to tell people that Barack believes women should be able to make our own choices about our health care, plain and simple.  (Applause.)  Remind them that it’s now easier for women to get equal pay for equal work because of the first bill he signed into law, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.  (Applause.)
 
And finally, I want you to remind people about those two brilliant Supreme Court Justices he appointed -- Elena Kagan and Justice Sonia Sotomayor -- (applause) -- and how for the first time in history, our sons and daughters watched three women take their seat on our nation’s highest court.  (Applause.)
 
So when you’re out there and people ask you, well, what has this President done for our country?  I want you to tell them how many jobs he created.  Tell them how much money he’s put back in the pockets of American people.  You can tell them that more of our kids can afford college; more of our seniors can afford their medicine.  Remind folks how Barack ended the war in Iraq, passed historic health reform, and stood up for our most fundamental rights again and again and again.  Let them know.  (Applause.)  Let them know.
 
But I also want you to remind them that all of that and so much more -- all of that is at stake this November.  All of it’s on the line.  That is the choice we face.  Are we going to continue the change we’ve begun and the progress we’ve made?  (Applause.)  Or are we going to allow everything that we’ve fought for to just slip away?
 
AUDIENCE:  No!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  No, we know what we need to do.  We cannot turn back now.  We’ve got to keep moving forward.  Forward!  Forward!  Forward!  Forward!  Forward!  (Applause.)
 
And more than anything else, that is what we’re working for -- the chance to finish what we started; the chance to keep fighting for the values we believe in and the vision that we all share.  This is all of our vision.  And that is what my husband has been doing every single day as President of the United States.  He’s been fighting for us.  (Applause.)
 
And let me share something with you.  Let me share something with you that I’ve shared with everyone I’ve talked to.  Over the past three and a half years, I have had the privilege to see up close and personal what being President really looks like.  (Laughter.)  So let me share some things.  I have seen how the issues that come across a President’s desk are always the hard ones –- the problems with no easy solutions, the judgment calls where the stakes are so high that there’s no margin for error.  And I have also seen that, as President, you’re going to get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people, right?  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 life experiences.  All you have to guide you are your values.  All you have to guide you is your vision for this country.  Because in the end, when it all boils down, it all comes down to who you are and what you stand for.  (Applause.)
 
And we all know who my husband is, don’t we?  (Applause.)  And we all know what he stands for.  (Applause.)  And we have seen again and again just how hard he’s willing to fight for us.  Remember when folks in Washington told Barack to let the auto industry go under, with more than a million jobs on the line.  That was the advice he was getting.  But Barack had the backs of American workers.  He put his faith in the American people.  (Applause.)  And as a result, today, the auto industry is back on its feet again, and more importantly, people are back at work again, earning a living.  (Applause.)  And remember how folks were telling Barack not to take on health care.  They said, leave it for another day, another President; just keep kicking that can down the road.  But Barack had the backs of American families.  And as a result, today, millions of people can finally see a doctor when they’re sick and get the care they need to stay well -- thanks to your President.  (Applause.)
 
So when it comes time to stand up for the middle class, so our kids can go to college and our families can make a decent living and save for retirement, you know what my husband is going to do.  When we need a President to protect our most basic rights, no matter who we are or where we’re from or what we look like or who we love, you know you can count on my husband because that’s what he’s been doing every single day as President of the United States.  (Applause.)  That, you know.  That, you know. 
 
But I have said this before and I will say it again:  He cannot do this alone.  That was never the promise. 
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We’ve got his back!  (Applause.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Barack has said this election will be even closer than the last one -- that you can count on.  And in the end it could all come down to those last few thousand votes.  And while that might not sound like a lot, remember that those votes are spread out across an entire state -- what that looks like across hundreds of cities and thousands of precincts.  So that one new voter that you register -- think about it -- that one neighbor you help get to the polls on November the 6th -- that could be the one that makes the difference.  Just think about it.  That could be the one.  That one conversation you have, that one new volunteer you recruit -- that could be the one that puts us over the top.  (Applause.)  That could be the difference between waking up on November 7th and asking yourself, “Could I have done more?”, or feeling the promise of four more years.  Four more years!  (Applause.)
 
AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years! 
 
MRS. OBAMA:  That’s it.  And that’s one of the reasons why we launched this new effort that we’re calling “It Takes One.”  It takes one -- think about it.  It is so simple.  Every time you take an action to move this campaign forward, we’re asking you to inspire just one more new person to step up and do their part as well -- just one.  So if you’re making phone calls, if you’re knocking on doors, bring one friend -- that little knucklehead you know that’s not doing enough.  Just bring them.  (Laughter.)  If you’re coming to an event, bring a neighbor who has never been involved in an election before.  We all know those people in our lives.  When you’re voting early, or on Election Day, bring one new voter along with you -- just one.  Find one friend, one colleague, one person in your family -- send them to barackobama.com/one so that they can get involved in this campaign.  That’s what it’s all about.
 
And here in North Carolina, I want you to tell them about this new thing just right here in this state -- it’s called "9-3-1"; it’s a program.  You all heard about that?  (Applause.)  This is going to be so good -- so good.  Listen to this, if you don’t know:  All you have to do is complete nine hours of volunteering, or three shifts, and you’ll get one opportunity to witness history with a guaranteed seat for my husband’s convention speech on the final night of the convention.  (Applause.)  I think I’m going to go for that one.  I want to make sure I got a seat.  (Applause.) 
 
And I want you all to be right there with us.  So -- love you too, babe.  We can’t do this without you.  (Applause.)  So we are going to need every single one of you to join us.  Because it’s like Barack has always said -- it just takes one voice to change a room.  And if a voice can change a room, it can change a city.  And if it can change a city, it can change a state.  And if it can change a state, it can change a nation.  That is the power of one person -- one person stepping up to move this country forward.  (Applause.)
 
Now, I am not going to kid you, because I never do.  This journey is going to be long, and it is going to be hard, and there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way.  But think about this -- understand this:  That is how real change always happens in this country.  Real change takes time.  But if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, then eventually we get there.  We always do.  We never go backwards.  (Applause.)  Maybe not in our lifetimes is what we have to remember, but maybe in our children’s lifetimes; maybe in our grandchildren’s lifetimes.  Because in the end, we have to -- that’s what this is about.  It is not about us.  In the end, that’s what elections are always about.  They are always about hope.  Don’t let anybody tell you any different.  They are always about hope.  They’re about our hopes for our children.  They’re about the world we want to leave for our next generation.  That’s what this is about.  (Applause.)
 
And if you want to know what keeps me fired up -- even when I’m tired, I think about just that very fact.  Every time I kiss my kids goodnight, I think about how I want to do for them what my mom and dad did for me, and what Barack’s mom and grandmother did for him.  That’s why we’re here.  I want to give my daughters and all of our sons and daughters a foundation for their dreams.  I want to give them opportunities worthy of their promise, because every single one of our children are worthy.  We know that.  I want to give our children 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. 
 
So we just can’t turn back now.  We have come so far, but we have so much more to do.  So my very last question is:  Are you all in?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Are you ready for this?  Are you really in?  (Applause.)  Are you the kind of roll-up-your-sleeves kind of in?  The kind of making a phone call?  Ask everybody you know.  Find every person you know.  Let them know.  Shake them up.  If you haven’t noticed, I am fired up.  I am so ready to go.  And I want you right there next to me.  We can do this.
 
Thank you all.  God bless.  (Applause.)
 
END               
1:34 P.M. EDT