Remarks by the First Lady at a Campaign Event

Private Residence, Los Angeles, California

1:45 P.M. PDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Well, good afternoon!  (Applause.)  All right, this is among the coolest things I do.  (Laughter.)  I’ve gotten to hang out with the queen, a couple of queens and kings and princes and dukes and whatever, but this -- this is cool.  (Laughter.)  So obviously I’m thrilled to be here with all of you today. 
 
And I want to thank Gwen, in particular, for being so kind and gracious and hosting us all here at her beautiful home.  (Applause.)  And even though Gavin couldn’t be here, I also want to say a special thank-you to him as well, and also to Kingston and Zuma.  I mean, they are letting all of us just enter their house, all the chaos, and they’re being so good about it today.  So thank you, guys, for letting us come -- indeed.  (Applause.)
 
And I have to thank our cohosts, among them, along with Gwen -- happen to moonlight as No Doubt -- (applause) -- Tony, Adrian, Tom, Gabrial and Stephen.  Thank you, guys, and your families as well.  Thank you so much, and all the cohosts here for making this event so special.  (Applause.) 
 
And finally, I want to thank all of you for your support and for taking the time to be here today.  And I particularly want to recognize all of the young people who are here with us.  (Applause.)  Because the truth is that you all are the reason we’re here today.  And you are the reason why I do what I do every single day. 
 
You see, we’re not just here because we want to win an election.  We’re here because of the values and the vision that we all share for all of you guys.  We’re here because we know that on November, we are going to make a choice that’s not just going to affect us grownups, but it’s going to affect all of our children and the world we leave for them long after we’re gone.  And let me tell you, I think about that every single day.
 
We’re here because we believe that everyone in this country should have a fait shot, and that means, for example, that all of our kids -- every child in America -- should have wonderful opportunities to grow and thrive.  All of our kids in this country deserve the best schools we can give them -- schools that challenge them to learn, and read, and do math, and sing, and paint, and play an instrument, and perform whatever it may be; schools that help them find their passions and help them expand their imaginations.  All of our kids deserve that. 
 
And we believe that when our kids grow up, if you guys work hard, you should have every opportunity to follow your dreams and get the kind of jobs and opportunities that allow you to provide for your families when you grow up, and help you build a full life before retiring with a little dignity and security.  That’s what we believe.  (Applause.)
 
And what all the grownups here know is that these are basic American values, right, moms, dads, sisters, brothers?  Right?  These are basic values.  There are the values that we are all trying to pass on to our kids -- values like hard work, fairness, altruism, empathy.  Those are the values that so many of us grew up with, including myself.  So let me tell you guys a little story about me when I was around your age.  My mom and dad and my big brother and I, we all lived in a very little apartment on the South Side of Chicago.  Our apartment was so little that for years, my brother and I shared a single bedroom.  And that room was separated by a panel wall that didn’t really reach the ceiling, because it allowed us to pretend like we each had our own rooms -- yes.
 
And even though my family didn’t have a lot of money or a lot of material things, my brother and I thought we were the richest kids on the planet because our parents showered us with love and laughter and all the support they could give us.  And even though my parents never had the chance to get a college degree, they placed very high expectations for us when it came to our education.  And we saw our parents live their values every single day.  We saw how they saved and sacrificed and poured everything they had into me and my brother so that we could get the kind of education they only dreamed of. 
 
And when my brother and I grew up and finally went 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 my father was determined to pay his share of our tuition and to pay that bill right on time.  See, because he was proud to be playing even a small part in being able to send his kids to college.  And he made sure that he never missed a registration deadline so that we could get to class on time; his check was never late. 
 
So by watching my mom and dad, and seeing how they lived their lives -- how they kept their promises; how they always treated everyone around them with dignity and respect -- I began to understand what this country is all about.  That’s how I learned that here in America, no matter who you are 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 you know what?  While I was learning all those good lessons in Chicago, there was this little boy in Hawaii -- (laughter) -- learning those same lessons as well, a little boy who would one day become my husband and President of the United States.  (Applause.)  You guys need to understand -- Barack, when he was little, his family didn’t have a lot of money either.  His mom was a single mom, and he saw how she struggled to put herself through school and still pay the bills.  His grandparents helped to raise him, and he saw how his grandmother had to wake up before dawn every morning to catch a bus to her job at a bank.  And while his grandmother was good at his job -- her job, like so many women, she watched men sometimes no more qualified than she was -- men sometimes she actually trained -- get promoted ahead of her.  But Barack also saw how his grandmother never complained.  She never complained.  She just kept getting up, just kept giving her best every single day to help her kids live a better life.
 
So what I remind people is that your President, my husband, knows what it means to work hard because you want something better for your kids and your grandkids.  Barack knows the American Dream that we’re all working for because he’s lived it.  And really, more than anything else, moms and dads and everybody here, that’s what’s at stake in this election.  Hopefully, that’s why we’re here.  It’s that dream that we’re working for, that fundamental American promise of fairness and opportunity and equality for every single person in this country.  (Applause.)  And that’s why, from now until November -- I think it’s 88, 86 days; it’s closing in -- we’re going to need all of you to get out there and tell everybody you know about Barack’s values.  Tell them about our vision, and tell them about the choice that we face in this election, because this election is about choices.
 
For example, it’s about the choice about our economy.  It’s about building a strong and growing middle class where people like my dad and Barack’s family have a chance to succeed.  So I want people to remind folks that Barack cut taxes for small businesses and working families, because he knows that the success of our economy depends on a thriving middle class.
 
And I want you to be sure to remind people how, when Barack first took office -- and kids can even understand this -- the economy -- we were losing hundreds of thousands of jobs every month.  That was before Barack was President.  But today, 4.5 million private sector jobs have been created in the last 29 months under this President.  (Applause.)  Our kids can do the math on that one, right?
 
So while we still have a long way to go to rebuild our economy, today millions of people are working and collecting a check; millions of people can provide for their kids again.
 
This election is also a choice about the health of our families.  It’s about a choice about the health of all of these young people who are here today.  And that’s why my husband worked so hard to pass historic health reform -- something no other President has been able to do in the last 100 years.  (Applause.)  The last 100 years; we couldn’t get this done until Barack Obama.  (Applause.)
 
And understand what health reform means for all of us.  Because of this reform, insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to kids who have preexisting conditions -- things like diabetes or even asthma.  And young people can now stay on their parents’ insurance until they’re 26 years old, moms and dads.  (Applause.)  So we can breathe a sigh of relief, so that when our young people graduate from college and they’re out there trying to find a job and get started, they don’t have to go without health care.  And if a child in this country gets really sick and has a serious illness like cancer, and they need very expensive treatment, their insurance company con no longer tell their families, sorry, you’ve hit your lifetime limit and we’re not paying a penny more.  Thanks to health reform, that is now illegal, and that is huge.  (Applause.)
 
So make no mistake about it, this November we get to decide:  Will we take that coverage away from our kids?  Or will we say that here in America, no child, no young person should ever have to go without the health care they need.  That’s the choice that we face.
 
This election is also a choice about the kinds of schools our kids will attend.  Barack is working to make sure that whether you’re in kindergarten or middle school or high school, you will have teachers and classes that challenge you to learn and explore and build the skills you need to get ahead.  And he wants to make sure that once you get a little bit older, you can go to college without a mountain of debt.  It’s important to remember, there are millions of kids like me and Barack who had to borrow to go to college.  And oftentimes, kids like us are paying those loans back for the rest of our lives, which means that a college education for the kids who can least afford it ends up costing us two or three or four times as much as kids who don’t need loans or grants to get the same education.  And that’s why Barack doubled funding for Pell Grants.  That’s why he fought so hard to stop student loan interest rates from rising.  (Applause.)  Because he wants all of our young people to get the education you all need for the jobs you deserve, regardless of how much money your parents make. 
 
He wants all of our kids to fulfill their promise, and that’s why he’s been fighting so hard for the DREAM Act.  (Applause.)  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, to contribute to this economy, to serve the country they know and love.
 
And we’ve got to remember that there are so many more choices that we face in this election, so many things this President has accomplished that allows us all to live out our values.  Remind folks that Barack kept his promise to bring our troops home from Iraq.
 
I want you to tell them how 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.”
 
Ladies, remind them that it’s now easier for women to get equal pay for equal work because of the very first bill he signed into law, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.  (Applause.)  Tell people that Barack is fighting to make sure that we, as women, are able to make our own choices about our health care.  (Applause.)  And of course, there are those two brilliant Supreme Court Justices my husband appointed -- Justice Elena Kagan; Justice Sonia Sotomayor -- and because of those appointments, for the first time in history, our kids watched three women take their seat on our nation’s highest court.  (Applause.)
 
But all of this and so much more, all of it is at stake this November.  It’s all on the line.  So we’ve got to ask ourselves, are we going to continue the change we’ve begun and the progress we’ve made?  Or are we going to just stand by and watch everything we’ve worked so hard for to just slip away?
 
But I think we know what we need to do, because we simply can’t afford to turn back now.  For our children’s sake, we have to keep moving this country forward.  Forward is what we have to do.
 
And I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again:  Barack can’t do it alone.  He’s not Spiderman.  (Laughter.)  He’s not a superhero; he’s a human.  So he needs your help.  And I’m not just talking to the adults here today.  I am talking to the young people here as well!  (Applause.)  All of our young people, you might not be old enough to vote -- you’ll vote at school, I know; I met several people who are going to be voting for my husband who are 10 and under.  We accept those votes.  (Laughter.)  But you can play an important role in this election, too.  I want you all to feel empowered and get used to being a part of the democratic process.  It starts now.  You can learn about the issues -- the issues like education and health care.  Learn about them, what they mean to you and your family and all your friends.  Talk to them, with your friends.  You can get out there and volunteer with your parents.
 
My husband needs everyone out there doing whatever they can because, as he said, this election is going to be even closer than the last one.  And that’s one of the reasons why we launched this great new program that we’re calling It Takes One.  All right, kids, listen to this, because it’s simple -- It Takes One.  Every time anybody here takes an action to move this campaign forward, we’re asking you to inspire just one more person to step up and do their part as well.  And we all know one person, right?  One person sitting at home, twiddling their thumbs, not really focused -- we all know that one.  (Laughter.)  So whenever you volunteer or donate, or even when you vote, take one new friend or neighbor along with you, because that momentum, it’s what’s going to carry us over the top.  Make sure, for all the young people who are more internet-savvy than I am, go to barackobama.com/one.  And that’s an easy way for people to get involved as well.  So we want all of you to figure out a way you can do just one more thing, get one more person involved. 
 
And I’m not going to kid you, especially the grownups here, this journey is going to be long, and it is going to be hard, and there will be plenty of twists and turns, highs and lows, dramatic moments, nail-biting moments, periods where you want to throw the TV into the lake.  (Laughter.)  But what we have to remember is that’s really how change always happens in this country.  Real change requires patience and tenacity -- that’s a vocabulary word, tenacious.  (Laughter.)  But if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting that good fight and doing what we know is right and living out our values, then eventually we get there.  We always do.  We always have in this country.  We’ve never gone backwards.  Maybe not in our lifetimes, grownups, but maybe in some of our kids’ lifetimes, right? 
 
Because, in the end, what keeps me going is that’s what this is really all about.  In the end, elections are always about hope.  Don’t ever let anybody tell you differently.  They’re about the hopes for all of you, our young people, and the world we want to leave behind for you.  And that’s what I think about every night when I put my girls to bed.  Every single night, I think about how I want to do for them what my dad and mom did for me, what Barack’s mom and grandmother did for him.  I want to give my daughters, and all of our kids, a foundation for their dreams, one of those rock-solid foundations.  Like all the parents in this country, we want to give you guys opportunities that are worthy of your promise, because all of our kids -- I don’t care who you are -- all of our kids are worthy of the best we have to give them.  We want you to have that limitless sense of possibility, that feeling that there’s always something better here in the greatest country on Earth if you’re willing to work for it, right, moms and dads?  (Applause.)
 
So one thing I keep telling myself is that we can’t afford to turn back now.  Not now.  We have come so far, right?  We have made so much progress for our young girls, for our young men.  We cannot turn back now.  So I have one last question to ask you guys:  Are you in?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.) 
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Do you think?  Are you in?  (Applause.)  Are you ready to roll up your sleeves?  (Applause.)  Are you ready to talk to your neighbors, find that one person?  Shake them up.  Are you fired up?  (Applause.)  If you haven’t noticed, I’m fired up.  I’m very fired up.  But I’m going to need you guys right out there, working every single day until Election Day.  All right?  (Applause.) 
 
We love you guys.  God bless.  (Applause.) 
 
                        END                2:04 P.M. PDT
 

Remarks by the First Lady at a Campaign Event - Denver, CO

Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, Colorado

6:02 P.M. MDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, my goodness.  (Applause.)  This is good stuff.  I am very excited to be here, first of all because most of my events are, like, in a hotel banquet hall -- (laughter) -- and tonight I’m here.  This is amazing -- it’s an amazing building, it’s an amazing group of people.  Thank you all.  It’s been a treat.  (Applause.)
 
And I want to start by thanking Elena, first of all for that very kind introduction and for all of her hard work on behalf of our campaign.
 
And I also want to thank the Governor for his kind words earlier and for his tremendous leadership here in Colorado during some very difficult times.  Barack and I know how much everyone here in this state has gone through over the past few months, and I got an opportunity to visit the hospital earlier. 
 
And also, as people get warm -- I know it’s warm -- do not hesitate to go and sit down.  We’ve been through this, so I will not consider it rude.  Take your heels off, ladies -- (laughter) -- because that helps as well.  Bend your knees.  (Laughter.)  But do not hesitate to go lean on a wall.  I know how you feel.
 
But I just want to make sure everyone here knows that our thoughts and prayers are still with you every single day.  And it was amazing to meet some of the staff at the hospital, to just see how they rallied and how they continue to support one another in these times.  I know it is just a blessing to know that you have resources like those individuals -- the hospital staff, the first responders; to know that in a time of crisis, that you have the resources in your midst to get the job done.  So we are so proud and grateful, and we will continue to do all that we can to support this state.
 
I also want to recognize David Kenney, as well as Helen Thorpe and Scott Miller, for their words earlier today and for all of their hard work.  (Baby coughs.)  I know, the baby.  (Laughter.)  It’s a baby.  It’s just so hot.  (Laughter.)
 
But thank you all so much for everything you’ve done to make this event such a success.  And while Senator Udall couldn’t be here, I’m thrilled that his wife, Maggie, could join us today.
 
And finally, I want to thank all of you, really, for taking the time to be here.  I know that you all are busy.  And I’m always amazed, even though people -- you know, it’s the First Lady, we love you, we’re excited -- but look, you all are busy.  You have busy lives to lead.  You’ve got jobs to do, classes to attend, families to raise.  So it’s always an honor when people take time out to get involved and to get engaged.  So I’m grateful.
 
But I also know that there is a reason why all of us are here today, and it’s not just because we all support one extraordinary man, who happens to be my husband, our President of the United States.  (Applause.)  And I am very biased.  I am one of his biggest fans, and I’m going to do my part to make sure he is there for another four years.  (Applause.)  And we’re not just here because we want to win an election -- which we do, and we will.
 
But what I remind everybody, because I think it’s so important to remember, especially for the people here in this state who have been through so much -- we are doing this because of the values we believe in.  This is about our values.  We’re doing this because of the vision for this country that we all share, I don’t care who we are.  We’re doing this because we believe that everyone in this country should have a fair shot.  That means simply that all our kids -- all of them -- should have good schools, right?  They all should be able to attend college without a mountain of debt -- simple things.  We believe that everyone here in America should do their fair share, which means that teachers and firefighters shouldn’t pay higher tax rates than millionaires and billionaires.  (Applause.)  We believe that if you work hard, you shouldn’t go bankrupt because someone gets sick.  (Applause.)  You shouldn’t lose your home in America because someone loses a job.  And after a lifetime of hard work, you should be able to retire with some security and dignity. 
 
And these are basic American values.  They’re the foundation of this country, and they’re the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself.  And I tell my story everywhere I go because I’m proud of where I’m from, my background.  My father was a pump operator at the city water plant, the only job he had his entire life.  And neither of my parents had a college degree.  But what I remind young people -- because we still see it in our parents and our grandparents -- what my folks did for us is that they saved, and they sacrificed, and they poured every little bit of anything they had into me and my brother so that we could get the kind of education they could only dream of.
 
Education was everything in our family.  It was our ticket to the middle class, quite frankly.  It was our pathway to the American Dream.  (Applause.)  And when my father -- my brother and I finally made it to college, most of our tuition came from student loans and grants, which is how most people go to college.  But my dad still had to pay a small portion of that tuition himself.  And let me tell you, every semester my father did everything in his power to pay that little portion of his bill right on time, because he was so proud to be a part of sending his kids to college.  And he made sure that we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late.  And like so many people in this country, my father took great pride in being able to earn a simple living, the kind of living that would allow him to handle his responsibilities to his family.  That’s all he wanted to do -- to be able to pay all of his bills, and pay them on time.  That’s what made him who he was.
 
And my father’s life is a testament to the 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 an even better life for your kids.  And trust me, my husband understands that promise because that’s his story as well.  That’s why I married him.  He’s cute and all, but -- (laughter and applause.)  Barack is the son of a single mother who struggled to put herself through school and pay the bills.  That’s who he grew up with.  He’s the grandson of a woman who woke up before dawn to catch a bus every day 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, she saw how, like so many women, she hit that glass ceiling and watched men no more qualified than she was -- men she had actually trained -- climb up that ladder ahead of her.  But what Barack also saw and learned from his grandmother is that she was someone who never complained.  Never complained; just kept getting up, just kept giving her best every single day to help support her family.
 
So Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.  It is not a hypothetical situation for him.  He knows what it means to work hard because you want something better for your kids or your grandkids.  And like me, and like so many of us, Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it.  He has lived it.  And one of the important things he understands is that when you’ve worked hard and you’ve done well in this country, and you’ve walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you.  You reach back.  (Applause.)  You reach back and you find every way to give others the chance to succeed as well.  That’s who we are.  (Applause.)
 
And more than anything else, that’s why we’re here.  That’s why we’re here, and that’s what’s at stake in this election.  It is that dream, that fundamental American promise.  And let me just tell you, from now until November, we are going to need all of you out there, more fired up than ever before; out there telling everyone you know -- tell them who your President is.  Tell them about his values.  Tell them about our vision.  And please, tell them about the choice we face in this election -- because this is an election about choices -- so many choices.
 
This is an election about -- this is a choice about our economy.  It’s about building a strong and growing middle class.  So we need you to remind people that Barack has been working to do that by cutting taxes for working families by $3,600; cutting taxes for small businesses 18 times during his presidency.  Because he knows that rebuilding our economy starts with the restaurants and the stores and the startups that create two-thirds of all new jobs in this country.
 
And I also want you to remind them what he inherited.  When Barack took office, he inherited an economy that was losing an average of 750,000 jobs a month.  That’s what awaited him after inauguration.  But also let people know that for the past 29 straight months, we’ve actually been gaining private sector jobs -- a total of 4.5 million new jobs under this President.  Let them know.  (Applause.) 
 
So while we still have a long way to go to rebuild our economy, today millions of people are collecting a paycheck again; millions of people like my dad are able to pay their bills again.  Let them know.
 
This election is a choice about the health of our families.  I mean, the fact is -- think about this:  Over the past century -- 100 years -- so many American Presidents have tried and failed to meet the challenge of health care reform.  But your President was determined.  Yes.  (Applause.)  Fortunately for us, your President was driven by the stories of the people he’d met.  We know these people -- the grandparents who couldn’t afford their medicine, the families going broke because a child got sick, the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won't cover her care.
 
And let me tell you, those are the stories that kept him going day after day.  That’s why he fought so hard for historic reform.  And today, because of that fight, because of that reform, today, our parents and grandparents are saving hundreds for their prescription drugs.  Our kids -- moms and dads -- can now stay on our insurance until they’re 26 years old.  And we all know what that means -- (applause) -- for our young people graduating from college trying to figure out their lives; having good health care in the midst of all of that.  
 
Because of this reform, insurance companies have to cover basic preventative care -- things like contraception, cancer screenings, prenatal care at no extra cost.  (Applause.)  They can’t discriminate against us because we have an illness that they call a preexisting condition. 
 
And if you get seriously ill -- maybe something like breast cancer -- and you need real expensive treatment, you really need medicine then, your insurance company can no longer tell you, sorry, you’ve hit your lifetime limit, and we won't pay a penny more.  No longer can they do that.  That is now illegal because of health care reform.  (Applause.) 
 
So make no mistake about it -- this November, we get to decide:  Do we want these reforms to be repealed? 
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  No!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Or do we want the people we love to have the care they need?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  That's the choice we face.  Those are the stakes.   
 
This election is also a choice about whether our kids can go to college without a mountain of debt.  So let me share a little something -- Barack and I are first starting out, so in love -- (laughter) -- fewer resources, but a lot of love.  (Laughter.)  Our combined student loan bill each month was actually higher than our mortgage -- and that is not unusual.
 
So when it comes to student debt, believe me, my husband and I, we've been there.  And that’s why Barack fought so hard to double funding for Pell Grants, he fought so hard to stop student loan interest rates from rising.  (Applause.)  Because he knows how important it is for all of our young people to be able to get the education they need for the jobs and the opportunities they deserve. 
 
All of our young people deserve a chance to fulfill their promise.  And that’s also why he’s been fighting so hard for the DREAM Act.  Because he’s fighting for responsible young people who came to this country as children through no fault of their own, were raised as Americans; this is the only country they know, because your President understands that these young people also deserve a chance to go to college, to contribute to this economy, to serve the country they know and love.  (Applause.)  All of our kids.
 
This election is a choice about keeping our country safe.  So I want you to remind people that after ten long years of war –- ten years of war -- after so many of our men and women in uniform served and sacrificed, and so many gave their lives, finally, Osama bin Laden is no longer a threat to this country.  (Applause.)  Remind people about that.
 
Remind people that Barack kept his promise and brought our troops home from Iraq -- (applause) -- and he’s working to make sure they get the benefits and the support that they’ve earned.  (Applause.)  And of course, today, our troops no longer have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love, because your President finally ended "don't ask, don't tell."  (Applause.)
 
This election is a choice about supporting women and families in this country.  So be sure to tell people that Barack believes that women should be able to make our own choices about our health care.  (Applause.)  Let's be very clear about that.  Remind them that it’s now easier for us to get equal pay for equal work because of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act -- you know what I'm talking about.  (Laughter and applause.)  The first bill Barack signed into law. 
 
And finally, especially in these times, tell people about those two brilliant Supreme Court Justices Barack appointed –- Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Sonia Sotomayor.  Because of those appointments, for the first time in history, our daughters and sons watched three women take their seat on our nation's highest court.  (Applause.)
 
So when you're out there, and you've got your sleeves rolled up and you're making that case, and someone asks you, well, what has this President done for our country, here's what I want you to tell them:  Tell them how many jobs he's created for this country.  Tell them how much money he's put back in the pockets of American families.
 
I want you to tell them that more of our kids can go to college; more of our seniors can afford their medicine.  Tell them that Barack ended the war in Iraq, he passed historic health reform, and he has stood up for our most fundamental rights again and again and again.  That’s what I want you to tell them.
 
But I also want you to remind them that all of that -- and so much more –- it is all on the line.  It's all at stake this November.  And that's the choice we face.
 
Are we going to continue the change we’ve begun and the progress that we’ve made?  Or are we going to just sit back and watch everything we’ve worked so hard for to just slip away?  What are we going to do?  
 
We know what we need to do, right? 
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  That’s right!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  We can’t turn back now.  Not now.  That’s why we need to keep moving forward -- I've said this -- we keep moving forward in this country.  (Applause.)  Forward.
 
And more than anything else, that’s what we’re working for -- that’s what we have to understand -– the chance to finish what we started; the chance to keep fighting for the values we believe in and the vision for this country that we all share.  And that’s what my husband has been doing every single day as President. 
 
And one of the things I've shared with people as I've gone around the country -- over the past three and a half years as First Lady, I've had the opportunity to see up close and personal what being President really looks like.  (Laughter.)  I've seen some things.  I've learned some things, some very important things.  Because I have seen how the issues that come across a President’s desk are always the hard ones.  Running for President is the easy part -- the problems with no easy solutions, the judgment calls where the stakes are so high that there is no margin for error -- none.
 
I have seen that as President, you're going to get all kinds of advice and opinions from all kinds of people all the time.  (Laughter.)  But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as President, what I have learned is that all that person has to guide them are their life experiences -- truly.  All you have as President to really keep you steady are your values, is that vision that you have for this country -- truly.  In the end, it all boils down to who that person is and what they stand for.
 
And what I remind people -- to know about their President -- they know who he is, and we all know what this President stands for, don't we?  (Applause.)  And we have seen again and again just how willing he is to fight for us.  (Applause.)  For us.
 
Remember when folks in Washington told Barack to let the auto industry go under?  Many people said, let it go.  That was the advice he was getting.  That was the guidance he was receiving with more than a million jobs on the line.  Just let it go.  But fortunately, our President had the backs of American workers.  He put his faith in the American people.  And as a result of those actions, the auto industry is back on its feet again, and, more importantly, people are back at work, collecting a paycheck, paying their bills, taking care of their families.
 
And remember how folks were telling Barack not to take on health care?  Remember that?  Because I do.  (Laughter.)  I was there.  (Laughter.)  They said, leave it for another day, another President; just keep kicking that can down the road. 
 
But fortunately for us, Barack had the backs of American families.  And as a result, today, millions of people can finally see a doctor when they’re sick.  Millions of people can finally get the care they need to stay well, thanks to your President.  
 
So when it comes time to stand up for us -- what I want you to ask yourselves when it's time to stand up for the middle class, and when it's time to stand up so that our kids can go to college, and our families can make a decent living, save for retirement, you know what my husband’s going to do.  That you know.  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 of America.  That you know.  (Applause.)
 
But I have said this before -- and so many of you have probably heard it -- he can't do it alone.  That was never the promise.  He needs your help.  And this election, as Barack has said, is going to be even closer than the last one.  And in the end, it could all come down to those last few thousand votes.  We've seen that before -- particularly in this very important state.   
 
And what I'm trying to get people to visualize is, take those thousands of votes and think about them spread out over an entire state.  Think about those few thousand votes spread across hundreds of cities and thousands of precincts, and then the numbers sort of change. 
 
So when you think about it, that one new voter that you register in your precinct -- think about that one neighbor that you help get to the polls on November 6th.  That could be the one that makes the difference.  That is the truth.  That one conversation you have, that one new volunteer you recruit -- that could be the one that puts us over the top. 
 
So never underestimate your individual power to impact this process.  That’s what our democracy is about.  That could be the difference between waking up on November the 7th and asking ourselves “could I have done more?” or feeling the promise of four more years.  (Applause.)  It is as simple as one. 
 
And it's because of that reality that we’ve launched this effort that we’re calling, It Takes One.  Because it's really a simple concept to grasp:  It takes one.  Every time that you take an action on behalf of this campaign to move it forward, we’re asking you to inspire just one more person to step up and do their part as well -- just one. 
 
So if you’re making phone calls or knocking on doors, bring that one friend along that’s not involved; maybe never has been involved in the process.  If you’re coming to an event, bring that one neighbor who’s never been done something like this.  Bring them along. 
 
When you’re voting early or on Election Day, take that one person with you who might struggle a bit on that day.  Find that one friend -- we all have them -- one colleague, one person in your family -- they don’t even have to leave their house -- send them to barackobama.com/one.  It's as simple as that -- and they can find a way to get involved in this campaign. 
 
And you can get started right now by signing up with one of our grassroots volunteers who are here today.  I mean, I am an action-oriented First Lady; there are people in the back room with pads right now.  Pads up!  (Laughter.)  So we want some rolling-up-sleeve action going on here today, because we need every single one of you to join in. 
 
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 the nation.  That is the power of one person stepping up to move this country forward, and that’s going to be the difference for us in this election.
 
And I’m not going to kid you, this journey is going to be long -- although it's getting shorter every day.  (Laughter.)  And it is going to be hard, and there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way -- we're watching it unfold right now, right?  Oh so drama-filled.  (Laughter.) 
 
But what I also try to remind people is, that’s how change always happens in this country.  Change -- real change -- requires patience and tenacity.  But if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting that good fight, the thing we have to understand is that eventually we will get there because we always do.  We always have. 
 
In this country, we've always moved forward.  But maybe not in our lifetimes -- here's the trick -- maybe in our children’s lifetimes, maybe in our grandchildren’s lifetimes.  Because in the end, that should really be why we're here.  That’s what this is about.  
 
In the end, that’s what elections are always about.  Don’t let anybody tell you differently.  Elections are always about hope -- always.  They’re about our hopes for our children.  They’re about the world we want to leave for them.  This is not about us, this is about the next generation; the people who did for us what we should be doing for them.
 
And that is what I think about every night when I look my girls in the eye and put them to bed -- every single night.  Whenever I get tired and I'm thinking, oh, I have to travel again, I look at them in the eye and I think about how I want to do for them what my dad did for me, what Barack's grandma did for him.  That’s who we want to be.
 
I want to give my daughters -- and I want to give all our sons and daughters –- a real foundation for their dreams, you know?  Something solid.  I want to give them opportunities worthy of their promise, because we know that all of our children are worthy -- every last one of them are worthy.  I want to give these kids a sense of limitless possibility –- that belief that here in America, the greatest country on the planet, anything is possible; there’s always something better out there if you’re willing to work for it. 
 
So what I tell myself is that we cannot turn back now.  No.  Not now.  We have come so far, but we have so much more work to do, don't we?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes.
 
MRS. OBAMA:  So my final question is, are you in?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Are you ready for this?  (Applause.)  Are you ready to really roll up your sleeves and do this hard work, this last little chunk of work to get us to the finish line?  Because it's going to take every single one of you, and everyone you know, and the power of your voice to be engaged in this process; to be passionately and actively engaged in this process. 
 
If you haven't noticed, I'm fired up.  (Laughter.)  So I hope that you are as fired up as we need you to be.  You have been there for so long, for so often, for so much hard work.  And we are so grateful and so blessed to have such tremendous supporters.
 
So we need to get this done, right?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes.
 
MRS. OBAMA:  All right.  Thank you all.  God bless.
 
    
 

Remarks by the President at Iftar Dinner

East Room

8:40 P.M. EDT

     THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)  Please, please have a seat.  Good evening, everyone.  And welcome to the White House. 

Of all the freedoms we cherish as Americans, of all the rights that we hold sacred, foremost among them is freedom of religion, the right to worship as we choose.  It’s enshrined in the First Amendment of our Constitution -- the law of the land, always and forever.  It beats in our heart -- in the soul of the people who know that our liberty and our equality is endowed by our Creator.  And it runs through the history of this house, a place where Americans of many faiths can come together and celebrate their holiest of days -- and that includes Ramadan.

As I’ve noted before, Thomas Jefferson once held a sunset dinner here with an envoy from Tunisia -- perhaps the first Iftar at the White House, more than 200 years ago.  And some of you, as you arrived tonight, may have seen our special display, courtesy of our friends at the Library of Congress -- the Koran that belonged to Thomas Jefferson.  And that's a reminder, along with the generations of patriotic Muslims in America, that Islam -- like so many faiths -- is part of our national story.

This evening, we’re honored to be joined by members of our diplomatic corps, members of Congress -- including Muslim American members of Congress, Keith Ellison and Andre Carson -- as well as leaders from across my administration.  And to you, the millions of Muslim Americans across our country, and to the more than one billion Muslims around the world -- Ramadan Kareem.

Now, every faith is unique.  And yet, during Ramadan, we see the traditions that are shared by many faiths:  Believers engaged in prayer and fasting, in humble devotion to God.  Families gathering together with love for each other.  Neighbors reaching out in compassion and charity, to serve the less fortunate.  People of different faiths coming together, mindful of our obligations to one another -- to peace, justice and dignity for all people -- men and women.  Indeed, you know that the Koran teaches, "Be it man or woman, each of you is equal to the other." 
And by the way, we’ve seen this in recent days.  In fact, the Olympics is being called "The Year of the Woman."  (Laughter.)  Here in America, we’re incredibly proud of Team USA -- all of them -- but we should notice that a majority of the members are women.  Also, for the very first time in Olympic history, every team now includes a woman athlete.  And one of the reasons is that every team from a Muslim-majority country now includes women as well.  And more broadly -- that's worth applauding.  (Applause.)  Absolutely. 

More broadly, we’ve seen the extraordinary courage of Muslim women during the Arab Spring -- women, right alongside men, taking to the streets to claim their universal rights, marching for their freedom, blogging and tweeting and posting videos, determined to be heard.  In some cases, facing down tanks, and braving bullets, enduring detentions and unspeakable treatment, and at times, giving their very lives for the freedom that they seek -- the liberty that we are lucky enough to enjoy here tonight. 

These women have inspired their sisters and daughters, but also their brothers and their sons.  And they’ve inspired us all. Even as we see women casting their ballots and seeking -- standing for office in historic elections, we understand that their work is not done.  They understand that any true democracy must uphold the freedom and rights of all people and all faiths. We know this, too, for here in America we're enriched by so many faiths, by men and women -- including Muslim American women.

They’re young people, like the student who wrote me a letter about what it’s like to grow up Muslim in America.  She’s in college.  She dreams of a career in international affairs to help deepen understanding between the United States and Muslim countries around the world.  So if any of the diplomatic corps have tips for her -- (laughter.)  She says that "America has always been the land of opportunity for me, and I love this country with all my heart."  And so we’re glad to have Hala Baig here today.  (Applause.)
  
They are faith leaders like Sanaa Nadim, one of the first Muslim chaplains at an American college -- a voice for interfaith dialogue who's had the opportunity to meet with the Pope to discuss these issues.  We're very proud to have you here.  (Applause.)  

They are educators like Auysha Muhayya, born in Afghanistan, who fled with her family as refugees to America, and now, as a language teacher, helps open her students to new cultures.  So we're very pleased to have her here.  (Applause.)

They are entrepreneurs and lawyers, community leaders, members of our military, and Muslim American women serving with distinction in government.  And that includes a good friend, Huma Abedin, who has worked tirelessly -- (applause) -- worked tirelessly in the White House, in the U.S. Senate, and most exhaustingly, at the State Department, where she has been nothing less than extraordinary in representing our country and the democratic values that we hold dear.  Senator Clinton has relied on her expertise, and so have I. 

The American people owe her a debt of gratitude -- because Huma is an American patriot, and an example of what we need in this country -- more public servants with her sense of decency, her grace and her generosity of spirit.  So, on behalf of all Americans, we thank you so much.  (Applause.)  

These are the faces of Islam in America.  These are just a few of the Muslim Americans who strengthen our country every single day.  This is the diversity that makes us Americans; the pluralism that we will never lose. 

And at times, we have to admit that this spirit is threatened.  We’ve seen instances of mosques and synagogues, churches and temples being targeted.  Tonight, our prayers, in particular, are with our friends and fellow Americans in the Sikh community.  We mourn those who were senselessly murdered and injured in their place of worship.  And while we may never fully understand what motivates such hatred, such violence, the perpetrators of such despicable acts must know that your twisted thinking is no match for the compassion and the goodness and the strength of our united American family. 

So tonight, we declare with one voice that such violence has no place in the United States of America.  The attack on Americans of any faith is an attack on the freedom of all Americans.  (Applause.)  No American should ever have to fear for their safety in their place of worship.  And every American has the right to practice their faith both openly and freely, and as they choose. 

That is not just an American right; it is a universal human right.  And we will defend the freedom of religion, here at home and around the world.  And as we do, we’ll draw on the strength and example of our interfaith community, including the leaders who are here tonight. 

So I want to thank all of you for honoring us with your presence, for the example of your lives, and for your commitment to the values that make us "one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."  (Applause.)  

God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)      
 
                            END               8:48 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady at a Campaign Event - Montgomery County, PA

Upper Dublin High School
Fort Washington, Pennsylvania

4:23 P.M. EDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Well, thank you so much.  (Applause.)  You all seem pretty fired up.  It’s good stuff.  (Applause.)  I am beyond thrilled to be here today.
 
And I want to start by thanking Julie and her family for their hard work, for that very kind introduction and for everything they’re doing on behalf of the campaign.  Let’s give Julie a round of applause.  (Applause.)
 
And I want to thank and recognize a couple of people as well -- the Pennsylvania Treasurer, Rob McCord; Montgomery County Commissioners Leslie Richards and Josh Shapiro -- (audio interruption) -- they need about the issues they care about.  And you have to know that the kind of grassroots work that you all are doing on the ground, that is the work that’s at the core of this campaign.  It is how we did it four years ago, and it’s how we’re going to do it again today.  (Applause.)
 
And I’ve been involved in a campaign or two, so I know that the work that you’re doing is not easy.  And you all have busy lives.  You all have a lot going on, like Julie, working full time, all the -- everybody is doing something, whether it’s handling your job, attending classes -- I see a lot of young people out here.  (Applause.)  You’re taking care of business.  Folks have families to raise.  So I know it takes a lot to invest in something like this.
 
But I also know that there is a reason why all of us are here today, and I know it’s not just because we all support who I believe is an extraordinary, phenomenal -- (audio interruption) -- (applause.)  And yes, I’m a little biased, just a little bit.  (Laughter.)  And it’s not just because we want to win an election -- which we do, and we will.  (Applause.)
 
We’re here and we’re doing this because of our values.  That’s what I remind people.  We’re here because of the values we believe in.  We’re here, we’re doing this because of the vision for this country that we all share.  I don’t care who we are, we all share this vision.  (Applause.)  We’re doing this because we believe that everyone in this country should do their fair share; they should have a fair shot.  That means that all our kids should have good schools.  (Applause.)  All our kids should be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.  (Applause.)  And what I said before about doing our fair share, that means teachers and firefighters shouldn’t pay higher tax rates than millionaires and billionaires.  (Applause.)  We believe that in America, if you work hard, you shouldn’t go bankrupt just because someone gets sick.  (Applause.)  And you shouldn’t lose your home because someone loses a job.  (Applause.)  And after a lifetime of hard work, you should be able to retire with dignity and security.  (Applause.) 
 
And what we have to remember is that these are basic American values.  This isn’t new.  This is the foundation of this country.  They’re the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself.  My father was a pump operator at the city water plant.  That’s the job he did his whole life.  And neither of my parents had a college degree.  But let me tell you what they did do:  They saved -- (audio interruption) -- my brother so that we could get the kind of education they could only dream of.  (Applause.)
 
Education, as Julie said, was everything in our 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.  Can anybody relate to that?  (Applause.)  But my dad still had to pay a small portion of that tuition himself.  And let me tell you, every semester my dad was determined to pay his little portion of that bill, and to pay it on time.  Because like so many people that we know in our lives, he was so proud to play a part in sending his kids to college.  (Applause.)  So he made sure that we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late.  That was what my dad did for us.  And like so many people in this country, my father took great pride in being able to earn a simple living that allowed him to meet his responsibilities to his family.  All he wanted to do was be able to pay his bills, and pay them on time. 
 
And his life is a testament to that basic American promise that no matter who you are in this country, no matter 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 one of the things I loved about him.  I mean, 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 to catch a bus at her job at the bank.  And even though Barack’s grandmother was good at her job and she worked hard, like so many women she hit that glass ceiling and watched men no more qualified than she was -- men she had actually trained -- climb the corporate ladder ahead of her.  (Applause.)  But the one thing Barack saw in his grandmother that so many of us have seen, he saw a woman who never complained.  How many people do we know like that in our lives -- never complain?  He watched her just keep getting up, just keep giving her best every single day to help support her family.
 
So what I want to remind people is that your President knows what it means when a family struggles.  This is not a hypothetical for him.  (Applause.)  He knows what it means to work hard because you want something better for your kids or your grandkids.  And like me, and like so many of you, Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it.  And one thing he understands is that when you’ve worked hard, and when you’ve done well, and you’ve walked through that doorway of opportunity, the one thing you don’t do is that you don’t slam it shut behind you.  (Applause.)  You reach back and you give other folks the chance to succeed as well. 
 
And truly, more than anything else, that’s what’s at stake in this election.  That’s why we’re here.  It is that dream, that fundamental American promise.  And let me tell you, from now until November -- less than 90 days -- we’re going to need all of you out there, every last one of you out there reminding people about what’s at stake.  (Applause.)  Tell them about Barack’s values.  Tell them about our vision.  Let them know about the choice we face in this election, because 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 folks that Barack has cut taxes for working families by $3,600.  Remind them about that.  (Applause.)  He cut taxes for small businesses 18 times -- 18 times.  (Applause.)  Because he knows that rebuilding our economy starts with the restaurants and stores and startups that create two-thirds of all jobs in this economy. 
 
And I want you to remind people also that, back when Barack first took office, what welcomed him after his inauguration was an economy that was losing an average of 750,000 jobs every month.  Understand this -- every month.  That’s where we started.  But also let people know that for the past 29 straight months, we’ve actually been gaining private sector jobs -- a total of 4.5 million new jobs under this administration.  (Applause.) 
 
So while we still have a long way to go to rebuild this economy again, today millions of people are collecting a paycheck again; millions of people like my dad are able to pay their bills again.
 
This election is a choice about the health of our families.  And the fact is -- understand this:  That over the past century -- hear me; 100 years -- there have been many Presidents who have tried and failed to meet the challenge of health care reform.  Tried and failed -- 100 years.  (Applause.)  But your President was determined.  (Applause.)  Barack was driven by the stories of the people he’d met.  You know them -- 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 let me tell you, that’s what kept him going day after day.  That’s why he fought so hard for historic health reform.  (Applause.)
 
And today, because of that reform -- understand where we are today -- our parents and grandparents are paying hundreds less for prescription drugs.  (Applause.)  Today, because of that reform, our kids can stay on our insurance until they’re 26 years old.  (Applause.)  And understand what this means for our kids graduating now, out there looking for work, trying to get their lives together.  No longer do they have to go without health care.  Because of this reform, insurance companies now have to cover basic preventative care -- simple things:  contraception, cancer screenings, prenatal care, at no extra cost.  (Applause.)  They cannot discriminate against us because we have an illness that they call a preexisting condition.  No more.  (Applause.)  And get this -- understand this:  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.  Thanks to health reform, that is now illegal.  (Applause.)
 
And 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 we need?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  That’s the choice in this election.
 
This election is 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 just starting out in our life together -- (laughter) -- we were so in love; we still are, not to worry -- (applause) -- but let me share something with you that you might relate to.  Our combined student loan bill each month was actually higher than our mortgage.  How many people can relate to that?  (Applause.)  That’s how we went to school.  So let me just tell you, when it comes to student debt, my husband 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 rising -- (applause) -- because he wants all our young people to get the kind of education they need for the jobs they deserve.  He wants all of our kids to fulfill their promise.
 
And that’s the reason he’s been fighting so hard for the DREAM Act.  Now, understand this:  He is fighting for responsible young people who have come to this country as children, through no fault of their own, and were raised as Americans because Barack believes that, yes, those young people, too, deserve a chance to go to college, to contribute to our economy, to serve the country they know and love.  (Applause.)
 
This election is a choice about keeping our country safe.  So I want to remind people that after 10 long years of war -- let us not forget all the men and women in uniform who served and sacrificed and gave their lives -- (applause) -- thanks to them, Osama bin Laden is no longer a threat to this country.  (Applause.)
 
And I want you to remind people that Barack kept his promise to bring our troops home from Iraq, and he has been fighting to make sure that they get the benefits and 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 a choice about supporting women and families in this country.  So be sure to tell people that Barack believes women should be able to make our own choices about our health care.  (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 of course, do not forget to remind people about those two brilliant Supreme Court Justices Barack appointed 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 someone asks you what this President has done for our country, here’s what I want you to tell them:  Tell them how many jobs he’s created.  Tell them how much money he’s put back in the pockets of working folks.  Tell them that more of our kids can afford college.  Them more of our seniors can afford their medicine.  Remind folks that Barack ended the war in Iraq, passed historic health reform, and stood up for our most basic fundamental rights again and again and again.  (Applause.)  That’s what I want you to tell them.
 
But I also want you to remind folks that all of that -- all of that and so much more -- all of that is at stake this November.  It’s all on the line.  And that’s 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 worked so hard for to just slip away?
 
AUDIENCE:  No!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  No, no -- we know what we need to do.  We can’t turn back now.  We need to keep moving forward.
 
AUDIENCE:  Forward!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  We need to keep moving this country forward.  (Applause.)  And truly, more than anything else, that’s what we’re working for.  Hopefully, that’s why we’re here -- the chance to finish what we started, right?  The chance to keep fighting for the values we believe in and the vision that we all share.  And let me tell you -- that’s what my husband has been doing every single day as President. 
 
And one of the things that I’ve come to learn over the last three and a half years as First Lady -- let me share this with you -- I have seen up close and personal what being President looks like.  So let me share some observations.  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 and there’s no margin for error.  And as President, you’re going to get all kinds of advice, all kinds of opinions, from all kinds of folks, but at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, what I have seen is that 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. 
 
And in the end, when it all boils down to it, who you are and what you stand for is critical.  (Applause.)  And we all know who my husband is, don’t we?  (Applause.)  And we all know what Barack Obama stands for.  And we have seen, again and again, just how hard he’s willing to fight for us.  (Applause.) 
 
Remember when folks in Washington were telling Barack to let the auto industry go under with more than a million jobs on the line?  Remember that?  That was the advice he was getting.  But fortunately, for us, Barack had the backs of American workers.  He put his faith in the American people, and as a result, the auto industry is back on its feet again.  (Applause.)  And, more importantly, people are back to work collecting a paycheck.
 
Remember when folks were telling Barack not to take on health care?  Do you remember that?  I do.  They said, leave it for another day, another President.  Just keep kicking that can down the road.  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.  (Applause.)  They can get the care that they need to stay well. 
 
So when it comes time to stand up for the middle class, I want you to ask yourselves, when it comes time to stand up for us, so that our kids can go to college and our families can make a decent living, save for retirement, you know what your President is going to do, don’t you?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  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.)  Every 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.  He needs you.  As Barack has said, this election will be even closer than the last one.  That is the only guarantee.  And in the end, think about this -- it could all come down to those last few thousand votes.  How many times have we been there? 
 
And while that might not sound like a lot, I just want you to think about a few thousand votes, when they’re spread out across an entire state, across hundreds of cities and thousands of precincts, just think about that -- so that one new voter that you register in your precinct, that one -- that that one neighbor that you get to the polls on November the 6th, I want you to think to yourself, that could be the one that makes the difference in this election.  (Applause.)  It's as real as that -- that that one conversation that you have, that one new volunteer you recruit, that could be the one that puts us over the top.  That could be the difference between us waking up on November the 7th and asking ourselves could I have done more, or feeling the promise of four more years.  (Applause.)  Four more years.
 
AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years! 
 
MRS. OBAMA:  So this is how we're going to do it.  This is how we're going to do it.  That's why we launched It Takes One.  It takes one -- it's as simple as it sounds, and Julie explained it earlier.  Every time you take an action to move this campaign forward, we're asking you to inspire one more person to step up and do their part.
 
So if you're making phone calls or knocking on doors, bring along that one little knucklehead friend of yours, you know the one that's never really registered to vote and is not really sure about getting involved.  Bring that friend.  (Laughter.) 
 
If you're coming to an event, bring a neighbor who is maybe on the fence, doesn't know the issues, unclear.  Bring him with you.  When you're voting early on Election Day, bring that one voter along with you who may not make it to the polls.  Find one friend, one colleague, one person in your family.  We all know that person, right?  They don't even have to leave their house.  Send them to BarackObama.com/one and they can get involved in this campaign.  (Applause.)
 
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.  (Applause.)  That is the power of one -- the power of one.  (Applause.)
 
So never underestimate your individual ability to move this country forward.  And I'm not going to kid you, this journey is going to be long.  It's getting shorter, actually.  (Laughter.)  But it is going to be hard.  And there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way. 
  
But what we have to remember is that's how change always happens in this country.  Real change takes time and patience.  But when we keep showing up, when we keep fighting that good fight, then eventually we get there -- we always do.  We always move forward in America, maybe not in our lifetimes.  This is the thing we have to hold onto, but maybe in our children's lifetimes, maybe in our grandchildren's lifetimes.  Because in the end, that's what this is all about.  And in the end, that's what elections are always about. 
 
Don't let anyone fool you, elections are always about hope.  They're about our hopes for our children -- you know what I'm saying?  They're about the world we want to leave for them, our next generation.  And that's what I think about every night when I put my girls to bed.  That's what keeps me passionate.  I think about how I want to do for them what my dad did for me, what Barack's grandmother did for him.  (Applause.)
 
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 kids are worthy, every last one of them.  (Applause.)  All of our kids deserve that feeling, that sense of limitless possibility, that belief that here in the United States of America, the greatest country on Earth, there is always something better out there if you’re willing to work for it.  (Applause.)
 
So what I say to myself is we can't turn back now.  We have come so far.  But we have so much more work to do.  So I have one last question:  Are you ready?  (Applause.)  Are you in?  (Applause.)  You think you can be in?  (Applause.)  You ready to roll up your sleeves now, find that one person -- shake them up?  We need you to be fired up, focused, working hard.  (Applause.)
 
If you haven't noticed, I'm a little fired up.  (Applause.)  I am going to be working as hard as I can.  We need every single one of you out there.  Thank you all for everything that you've done.  God bless.  (Applause.)

END
4:48 P.M. EDT