Remarks by the First Lady at a Campaign Event

Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, New Hampshire

5:31 P.M. EDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Hello!  (Applause.)  Wow.  Thank you all so much.  Wow!  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.
 
First of all, I am so excited to be here.  And I want to thank you all.  It is hot in here, and you guys -- (applause) -- are hanging in there.  Let me just say this, if anybody needs to sit down, sit down.  (Laughter.)  I will not be offended.  If you start feeling -- just sit down.  Sit down.  (Laughter.)
 
Thank you so much.  I am thrilled.  I want to start by thanking Meredith for that very kind introduction -- heartfelt, passionate -- and for all of her work and service to this campaign, to this country.  Let’s give her a round of applause.  (Applause.) 
 
And I want to thank the State Party Chair, Ray Buckley, for joining us today, as well as Pam Brown for her words earlier today.  (Applause.) 
 
And most of all, I want to thank all of you.  You all, our extraordinary volunteers, our organizers -- thank you for everything you’re doing every single day, day in and out, to make this campaign possible.  I want to thank you for knocking on those doors, registering voters, giving people the information they need about the issues they care about.  Because the grassroots work that you all are doing, that is at the core of everything we do in this campaign.  And that’s how we did it four years ago; that’s how we’re going to do it again today.  So thank you.  (Applause.)
 
And I know this work that you’re doing, that it’s not easy.  Being involved in a campaign is not easy.  And I know you all are busy.  Everybody is busy.  You’ve got lives to live, jobs to do, classes to attend, families to raise.  But I also know that there’s a reason why you’re here today, and it’s not just because we all support a phenomenal President, my husband.  (Applause.)  And it’s not just because we want to win an election -- which we do, and we will.  (Applause.) 
    
What I remind people everywhere I go is that we’re here and we’re doing this because of the values we believe in.  It’s 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 everyone in this country should have a fair shot.  (Applause.)  And that means that every single child in this country should have good schools to go to, right?  (Applause.)  All of our kids should be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.  (Applause.) 
 
We believe that everyone should do their fair share, which means teachers and firefighters shouldn’t pay higher taxes than millionaires and billionaires.  (Applause.)  We believe that if you work hard, you shouldn’t go bankrupt because somebody 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 dignity and security.  (Applause.)
 
These are basic American values, right?  These are the foundation of this country, the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself. 
 
You all know my story by now.  My father was a pump operator at the city water plant.  He did that job his entire life.  And neither of my parents had a chance to get a college degree.  But let me tell you what my parents did do for me, which I know many people share this story -- my parents saved for us.  They sacrificed everything 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 in our family.  It was our ticket to the middle class, our pathway to the American Dream.  (Applause.) 
 
And when my brother and I finally made it to college, pretty much all of our tuition came from student loans and grants.  People can understand that, right?  (Applause.)  But my dad still had to pay a small portion of that tuition himself.  And let me tell you, every semester he was determined to pay that bill, and to pay it on time.  My father was 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 allowed him to handle his responsibilities to his family.  That’s all he wanted.  He wanted to be able to pay his bills, and pay them on time. 
 
My father’s life is a testament to the basic American promise that no matter who you are or how you started out, in this country, if you work hard, you can build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids.  (Applause.)  And what I want people to understand is my husband understands that promise because that’s his story as well.  That’s why I married him.  (Applause.) 
 
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 every day 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 to support his family, like so many women she hit that glass ceiling and watched men no more qualified than she was climb up the ladder ahead of her.  But what he also saw was a woman that never complained -- never complained.  How many people do we know like that in our lives?  She just kept getting up, just kept giving her best every single day to support her family.
 
So what I want everybody to know is Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.  It’s 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.  (Applause.)  And he believes that when you’ve worked hard -- right? -- when you’ve worked hard and done well, and you’ve had the chance to walk through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you.  You reach back and you give other folks the chance to succeed.  (Applause.) 
 
And more than anything else, that’s what’s at stake in this election.  That’s why we’re here -- it’s that dream; it’s that fundamental American promise.  And from now until November, we’re going to need all of you -- all of you to get out there and tell people that you know -- tell them about Barack’s values.  Tell them about his vision -- our vision -- and about the choice we face in this election.
 
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.  (Applause.)  He has cut taxes for small businesses 18 times -- (applause) -- because your President knows that rebuilding our economy starts with the restaurants and stores and the startups in this country that create two-thirds of all new jobs in America.
 
And I want you to remind people how back when Barack first took office, this economy was losing an average of 750,000 jobs a month -- a month!  That’s what he inherited.  That’s what welcomed him after his inauguration.  But I also want you to tell 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.  You have to let them know.  (Applause.)
 
So while we have a long way to go to rebuild our economy, people have to understand, 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 also a choice about the health of our families.  The fact is that over the past century -- okay? -- 100 years, so many Presidents have tried and failed to meet the challenge of health care reform.  But your President was determined.  (Applause.)  Yes, he was determined.  Barack was driven by the stories of the people he’d met -- the grandparents who couldn’t afford their medicines, 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 historic reform. 
 
And today, because of that reform, our parents and grandparents are paying hundreds less for their prescription drugs.  (Applause.)  Our kids can stay on our insurance until they’re 26 years old -- (applause) -- so our young people in this country don’t have to go without health care right after they graduate and they’re out there trying to build their lives and look for a job. 
 
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 no longer discriminate against you because you have an illness that they call a preexisting condition.  (Applause.)  And also, if you get a serious illness -- something like breast cancer -- and you need really expensive treatment, your insurance company can no longer tell you, sorry, you’ve hit your lifetime limit and we’re not paying anymore.  That is now illegal thanks to health reform.  No more.  (Applause.)
 
But 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 that they need?  It’s our choice.  That’s the choice we face in this election.
 
This election is a choice about whether our kids can attend college without a mountain of debt.  Let me share something with you -- when Barack and I were first starting out in our lives, and we were all in love and buying a house and doing -- our combined student loan bill each month was actually higher than our mortgage.  How many people can relate to that?  (Applause.) 
 
So when it comes to student debt, trust me, my husband 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 increasing.  (Applause.)  Because he wants all young people to be able to get the education they need for the jobs they deserve.
 
Barack 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, because he believes that, yes, these young people also deserve a chance to go to college, to contribute to our economy, to serve the country they know and love -- all of our kids.  (Applause.)
 
This election is a choice about keeping our country safe.  So I want you to remind people that after 10 long years of war, after so many of our heroic men and women in uniform served, sacrificed, 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, and he’s working 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 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 let people know that your President believes that women should be able to make our own choices about our health care.  (Applause.)
 
I want you to remind people 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.  First thing he did as President.  (Applause.) 
 
And of course, we have to remind people about those two brilliant Supreme Court Justices he appointed, and how, for the first time in history, we watched three women take their seat on our nation’s highest court.  (Applause.)
 
So when people ask you what this President has done for our country, here’s what you tell them:  Tell them how many jobs he’s created.  Tell them how much money he’s put back in the pockets of American people.  You 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.  That’s what I want you to tell them.  That’s what I want you to tell them.  (Applause.)
 
But I also want you to remind everyone that all of that and so much more -- it’s all at stake this November.  It’s all 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?  Or are we going to just let everything we’ve fought for to just slip away?
 
AUDIENCE:  No! 
 
MRS. OBAMA:  No, we can’t do that.  We can’t turn back now.  We need to keep moving forward, right?  This country needs to keep moving forward.  Forward!  Forward!  (Applause.)
 
And really, more than anything else, that’s what we’re working for.  That’s why we’re here -- the chance to finish what we’ve started; the chance to keep fighting for the values we believe in and the vision that we all share, I don’t care who you are.  And that’s what my husband has been doing every single day as President.  (Applause.)
 
But let me share something with you.  See, as First Lady, I have had the privilege for the last three and a half years of seeing up close and personal what being President looks like.  And I’ve seen some things.  (Laughter.)  But most importantly I have seen how the issues that come across a President’s desk are always the hard ones -- the problems with no easy solutions, I don’t care what anybody says; the judgment calls where the stakes are so high, and there is no margin for error. 
 
And I’ve also seen that, as President, you’re going to get all kinds of advice and guidance from all kinds of people.  But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision as President, all a President has to guide them are their life experiences.  All you have as President to guide you are your values and your vision for this country.  In the end, it all boils down to who you are and what you stand for.
 
And we all know who my husband is, don’t we?  (Applause.)  We all know what Barack Obama stands for.  (Applause.)  And we have seen again and again just how hard he’s willing to fight for us.  (Applause.)  Remember when folks in Washington told Barack to let the auto industry go under, with more than a million jobs on the line?  Remember that?  But fortunately Barack had the backs of American workers.  He put his faith in the American people.  And as a result, today, the auto industry is back on its feet again, and more importantly, people are back at work earning a paycheck for their family.  (Applause.) 
 
Remember how folks were telling Barack not to take on health care, right?  Remember that?  Because I do.  They said, leave it for another President, another day.  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; they can get the care that they need to stay well.  (Applause.) 
 
So what you’ve got to tell people is that 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, don’t you?  (Applause.)  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’s why I’m fired up.  (Applause.)
 
But I have said this before -- I have said this before and I will keep saying it:  He cannot do this alone.  That was never the promise -- never the promise.  Barack has said this election will be even closer than the last one.  That is the only guarantee. 
 
And I want you to think about it, because in the end this could all come down to those last few thousand votes -- particularly here in New Hampshire.  And when you think about the number, right -- and remember that those votes are spread out across an entire state, across hundreds of cities and thousands of precincts -- so when you’re out there, wondering whether what you’re doing is mattering, I want you to think 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, I want you to think that could be the one that makes the difference. 
 
That one conversation that you have, that one new volunteer that you recruit -- that could be the one that puts this over the top.  That could be the difference between us waking up on November the 7th and wondering, “could we have done more?”, or feeling the promise of four more years.  That’s the difference -- one person.  One person.  (Applause.) 
 
And that’s why we’re launching our new initiative, It Takes One.  It Takes One.  Let me explain, because it’s simple.  Meredith explained it.  With every action you take to move this campaign forward, we’re asking you to inspire one more person.  One more person -- bring them with you.  Have them step up and do their part. 
 
So if you’re knocking on doors, bring one more person.  Bring a friend.  If you’re going to an event, bring a neighbor who has never been involved in an election before.  When you’re voting early, or even on Election Day, bring one new voter along with you.  Everybody knows one person, right?  One friend, one colleague, one somebody who is standing on the sidelines who needs you to just shake them up.  Send them to barackobama.com/one.  Find them and help them get involved.
 
It’s like Barack has always said:  It takes one voice to change a room.  And if one voice can change a room, it can change a city.  And if it can change a city, it can change a state.  If it can change a state, it can change a nation.  That is the power of one person stepping up and moving this country forward.  (Applause.)  So we want you all to multiply yourselves.
 
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 I just want you all to remember, that’s how change always happens in this country.  Real change is slow.  But if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, then eventually we get there.  We always do -- maybe not in our lifetimes, but maybe in our children’s lifetimes, maybe in our grandchildren’s lifetimes.
 
Because in the end, that’s really what this is about.  In the end, I want you to remember 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 for them.  It’s not about us. 
 
And that’s what I think about every night when I put my girls to bed.  I think about how I want to do for them what my dad did for me, what Barack’s grandmother and mother did for him.  (Applause.)  I want to give my daughters, and all of our sons and daughters, a real foundation for their dreams.  I want to give them opportunities worthy of their promise.  Because what each of us knows is all of our kids are worthy.  They’re all worthy.  I want to give our kids 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 when I get tired, I just say to myself, we just can’t turn back now.  Not now.  We have come so far, but we have so much more work to do.  (Applause.) 
 
So I’ve got one last question to ask you:  Are you in?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.) 
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Are you way in?  Are you ready to roll up your sleeves, and fired up?  And get it ready to go.  We’re going to need you every step of the way.  Multiply yourselves.  Bring one person into the fold.  We’re going to need you every step of the way.
 
Thank you all.  God bless.
 
END               
5:57 P.M. EDT
 

Remarks by the First Lady at Campaign Event

Memorial Middle School
Laconia, New Hampshire

2:58 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Hey!  (Applause.)  Well, thank you so much.  Oh, my goodness.  This is exciting.  I am very happy to be here today.  I really am. 

I want to start by thanking Val for that very kind introduction -- she did an awesome job -- and for her years of service to this country.  So let’s give her a round of applause.  (Applause.)  I also want to thank Anne Rogers for her words earlier.  Thank you, Anne.

And finally, I want to thank all of you, truly, our extraordinary volunteers and organizers.  Thank you all for everything you do, day in and out, to make this campaign possible.  Thank you, guys.  (Applause.)  Thank you for knocking on those doors -- that’s hard to do.  It’s hard to knock on somebody’s door and ask them what they’re thinking.  Thank you for registering those voters.  Thank you for giving people the information they need about the issues they care about. 

And I just want you 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 everything we do in this campaign.  That’s how we did it four years ago, and believe me, that’s how we’re going to do it again today.  So thank you.  Thanks so much.  (Applause.) 

And I know this work isn’t easy -- that I know.  I have learned.  I’ve done it myself.  It’s not easy.  And I know all of you are busy.  You’ve got busy lives.  You’ve got jobs to do.  We’ve got young people who have got classes to attend, fun to have, swimming to do.  (Laughter.)  We’ve got families to raise.  But I also know that there’s a reason why you all are taking time out of your lives to do that work and to be here today, and it’s not just because we support a phenomenal, extraordinary, awesome President, who happens to be my husband.  (Applause.)  I am a little biased, just a little bit.  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 work because of the values we believe in.  It’s 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 in America, everyone should have a fair shot.  That means all of our kids -- all of them -- should have good schools.  (Applause.)  Every last one of our kids should be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.  (Applause.)  In America, we believe that everyone should do their fair share.  That means that teachers and firefighters shouldn’t pay higher taxes 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 because someone loses a job.  And after a lifetime of hard work, you should be able to retire with dignity and security.  (Applause.)

And what we know is that these are basic American values.  This is the foundation of this country.  They’re the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself.  As most of you know by now, my father was a pump operator at the city water plant in Chicago.  This is a job he did all his life.  And neither of my parents had a college degree.  But what my parents did do for us -- they saved, and they sacrificed, and 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 in our family.  It was our ticket to the middle class.  It was our pathway to the American Dream.  And when my -- absolutely.  (Applause.)  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 was determined to pay his little share, and to pay that right 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 just a simple living -- the kind of living that allowed him to meet his responsibilities to his family, to pay his bills and pay them on time.  That’s all my dad wanted.  That was it. 

And my father’s life is a testament to that basic American promise that in this country, 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.  (Applause.)  And what I want you to know is 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 put herself through school and pay the bills.  He’s the grandson of a woman who woke up before dawn to catch a bus to a 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 watched men no more qualified than she was -- men she had actually trained -- be promoted up the ladder ahead of her.  But she never complained.  How many people do we know like that in our lives?  She just kept getting up and giving her best every single day to support her family.

So 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 you’ve done well, and you’ve walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you.  You do not do that.  (Applause.)  You reach back and you give other folks the chance to succeed as well.  That’s what we do in America.  (Applause.) 

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 from now until November, we’re going to need each of you to get out there and to remind people about what’s at stake.  Tell them about Barack’s values.  Let them know about the vision that we share, about the choices we face in this election. 

This election is a choice about our economy.  It’s about building a strong and growing middle class.  So I want you all to remind folks that Barack has cut taxes for working families by $3,600.  (Applause.)  He has cut taxes for small businesses 18 times -- 18 times -- (applause) -- 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. 

But I want you 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 he inherited.  That’s what he walked into after his inauguration.  But also remind them that for the past 28 straight months, we’ve actually been gaining private sector jobs -- more than 4 million new jobs.  (Applause.)

So, yes, while we still have a long way to go to rebuild this economy, we have more work to do, 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.  I mean, the fact is -- understand this -- for the past century, 100 years, so many of our Presidents have tried and failed to meet the challenge of health care reform.  But your President was determined.  (Applause.)  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 why he kept fighting.  That’s what kept him going day after day. 

And thanks to this historic reform, now 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 -- (applause) -- so they don’t have to go without health care right when they graduate and are out there trying to build their lives.  Because of this reform, insurance companies have to cover basic preventative care -- things like contraception, cancer screenings, prenatal care, at no extra cost.  (Applause.)  Insurance companies cannot discriminate against you because of an illness that they call a preexisting condition.  (Applause.)  And if you get a serious illness -- let’s say breast cancer -- and you need really 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.)

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? 

AUDIENCE:   Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  That is the choice in this election.

This election is 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, building our lives together, oh-so in love -- (laughter) -- still are, still are -- (applause) -- our combined student loan bill each month was actually higher than our mortgage.  How many people can relate to that?  (Applause.)  So when it comes to student debt, my husband and I, we’ve been there.  And that is why Barack doubled funding for Pell Grants, fought so hard to stop student loan interest rates from rising.  (Applause.) 

Because he wants all of our young people, all of them 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’s why he’s been fighting so hard for the DREAM Act.  I mean, understand this:  He is fighting so that 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 also deserve a chance to go to college, to contribute to our economy, to serve the country they know and love.  (Applause.)

This election is also a choice about keeping our country safe.  So I want to remind people that after 10 long years of war, 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.)

You can remind folks that Barack kept his promise to bring our troops home from Iraq, and he’s working hard to make sure that they have 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 that women should be able to make our own choices about our health care.  (Applause.) 

Remind people that it is now easier for women to get equal pay for equal work because of the first bill Barack signed into law, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.  (Applause.) 

And finally, I want you to tell people about those two brilliant Supreme Court Justices he appointed -- Justice Elena Kagan, 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.  (Applause.)

So when people ask you what this President has done for our country, tell them how many jobs he’s created.  Tell them how much money he’s put back in the pockets of the 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; stood up for our most basic, fundamental rights again and again and again.  Remind them.  Remind them.  (Applause.)

But also remind them that all of that and so much more -- it’s at stake.  It’s all on the line.  And that’s the choice we face. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you!  (Applause.)

MRS. OBAMA:  We couldn’t do this without you.  We could not. 

So are we going to continue the change we’ve begun and the progress we’ve made?  (Applause.)  Or are we going to allow everything we fought for to just slip away?

AUDIENCE:  No! 

MRS. OBAMA:  No, we know what we need to do.  We can’t move back.  We need to keep moving forward, absolutely.  That is why we’re here.

More than anything else, that’s what we’re working for -- 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 my husband has been doing every single day as President.

And as First Lady, let me tell you, I’ve had a chance over the last three and a half years 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; the judgment calls where the stakes are so high, and there is no margin for error.  None.  And as President, you’re going to get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people.  But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as President, all you have to guide you are your life experiences.  All you have to guide you are your values -- is your vision for this country.  In the end, what I have learned is that it all boils down to who you are and what you stand for.  (Applause.)

And we all know who my husband is, don’t we?  We all know what Barack Obama stands for.  (Applause.)  And we have seen again and 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 Barack had the backs of American workers.  He put his faith in the American people.  And as a result, today, the auto industry is back on its feet again, and more importantly, people are back at work collecting a paycheck again.  (Applause.) 

Remember how folks were telling Barack not to take on health care.  You remember that?  I do.  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 -- millions of people in this country can finally see a doctor when they’re sick; they can get the care they need to stay well.  Finally.  (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.)

But I have said this before and I will say it again:  He cannot do it alone.  He cannot do it alone.  Barack has said this election is going to be closer than the last one -- that’s the only guarantee.  And in the end, it could all come down to those last few thousand votes, right?  And while that may not sound like a lot, remember that those votes are spread out across an entire state, across hundreds of cities, thousands of precincts.  So just think about it:  That one new voter that you register to vote in your precinct, that one neighbor that you help get to the polls on November -- that could be the one that makes the difference.  It’s that simple.  That one conversation 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 yourself, “Could I have done more?”, or feeling the promise of four more years.  Four more years -- that’s the difference.  (Applause.)  Four more years!

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

MRS. OBAMA:  With your help.  And as Val mentioned earlier when she introduced me, that’s why we’re launching an effort that we’re calling “It Takes One.”  It takes one -- it’s a simple concept.  It’s how our democracy works, right?  Every time you take an action to move this campaign forward, we’re asking you to inspire one more person.  We all know one more person to step up and do their part -- one more person.  So if you’re making phone calls, if you’re knocking on doors, bring one new friend that hasn’t done it before, who’s sitting on the sidelines, not really sure.  If you’re coming to an event, bring one neighbor who has never been involved in an election.  When you’re voting early or on Election Day, bring one new voter along with you.  Find one friend, one colleague, one person in your family, -- shake them up.  Send them to barackobama.com/one.  They don’t even have to leave their house.  They can 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 the nation.  It’s the power of one -- the power of one voice, one person stepping up.  (Applause.) 

But I am not going to kid you, because I never do.  This journey is going to be long, and it’s going to be hard, and there are going to be lots of twists and turns along the way.  But what I ask people to remember is that’s how change always happens in this country.  Real change takes times.  But if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, fighting for our values and our vision, then eventually we’ll get there.  We always do.

Oh, are we good?  We’ve got one -- we need water.  Standing up is hard.  (Laughter.)  It’s one of the hardest things that you’ll do.  But we’re doing it for our kids, our young people -- willing to stand up on a hot stage for what they believe in.  That’s why we’re here.  (Applause.)  We have to remember, we’re in this for our young people.  We’re doing this because change might not happen in our lifetimes, but maybe in our children’s lifetimes, maybe in our grandchildren’s lifetimes.

Because in the end, that’s what this is about.  We’re here because of them.  In the end, this election is always about hope.  Don’t let anybody ever fool you -- elections are always about hope.  (Applause.)  They’re about our hopes for our children.  They’re about the world we want to leave for them, our next generation.  And let me tell you something, that is what I think about every night when I put my girls to bed.  Every night, I think about the world I want to leave for them.  I think about how I want to do for them what my dad did for me.  I think about how I want to give my girls that foundation for their dreams.  I want all of our kids to have that foundation.  I want to give them opportunities worthy of their promise, because all of our young people are worthy -- all of them.  All of these kids are worthy of that promise.  I want to give all of our kids that sense of limitless possibility.  You know the feeling -- that sense that in America, there is always something better if you’re willing to work for it.  That’s why we’re here.  That’s why we’re here.  (Applause.)

So when I get tired, I just think about the fact that we cannot turn back now.  Not now.  We have come so far, but we have so much more work to do.  So I’m going to ask you one last question so no one else falls out.  (Laughter.)  Are you in?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  Are you ready for this? 

AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.)

MRS. OBAMA:  Are you ready to work? 

AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  And roll up your sleeves?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  To talk to your neighbors?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  To shake them up?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  If you can’t tell, I’m fired up.  I am so fired up, and I’m so ready to go.  We’re going to need you guys every step of the way.  You all have been amazing.

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

END
3:25 P.M. EDT

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 President at Campaign Event

John S. Knight Center
Akron, Ohio

3:31 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Akron!  (Applause.)  Oh, it is good to be in Akron, Ohio again!  (Applause.)

A couple people I want to acknowledge -- first of all, please give Jenna a big round of applause for that great introduction.  (Applause.)  I was telling Jenna before we came out I just love nurses, and for her to be looking after people every single day, that's what it's all about.  So I am so impressed with her.

A couple other people I want to acknowledge -- Russ Pry, Summit County Executive, is here.  (Applause.)  Now, your Mayor, Don Plusquellic -- (applause.)  I very much appreciate the fact that he had a little bit of surgery on his leg, just got out of the hospital, got wheeled in here -- (laughter) -- he's not going to be able to stay, but I'm grateful for him taking the time to come. 

And I want to say thank you to all the neighborhood leaders who are here.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  You guys are what this campaign is all about. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you!

THE PRESIDENT:  I love you back.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.

I also want to make sure we give it up for all our outstanding U.S. of A. athletes who are competing in London right now.  (Applause.)  There are a whole bunch of Ohioans representing our country over there.  When wrestling gets underway next week, we’ll be rooting for Army Specialist Justin Lester, right here from Akron.  (Applause.)  He may be wearing a different uniform, but he is still fighting for the United States of America.  (Applause.)

On the way over here, I had a chance to speak to Michael Phelps, who's won more medals than anybody.  (Applause.)  And then I spoke to the women's gymnastic team.  (Applause.)  Now, let me just say, I know how to run -- although I don't run as fast as these guys.  I know how to swim -- although I don't swim as fast.  These gymnasts, I don't understand what they're doing. (Laughter.)  I cannot even walk on a balance beam.  They're doing back flips and -- little, itty-bitty young ladies.  Unbelievable. So we could not be prouder of them.  (Applause.)  

Now, let me just say, unless you have been hiding your TV set -- (laughter) -- or your cable is broke, you may be aware that there is a fairly intense political campaign going on right now.  (Applause.) 

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

THE PRESIDENT:  Now, the reason this campaign is so intense is because the choice that we’re going to be facing in November could not be bigger.  This is not just a choice between two candidates.  It’s not just a choice between two parties.  It is a choice about two fundamentally different visions for where we go in the future, two fundamentally different paths for our country. The direction that we choose -– the direction you choose when you walk into that voting booth –- it will not just have an impact on your lives; it will have an impact on your children’s lives and your grandchildren’s lives.  (Applause.)  It will impact America for decades to come.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  That’s why we vote for you!  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Now, four years ago, we all came together -– Democrats, but we also had independents, we had some Republicans -– to restore the basic bargain that built this country, that made us into an economic powerhouse.  It was a bargain, it was a deal that says if you work hard here in America, you should be rewarded for that work.  (Applause.)  It’s a deal that says if you put in enough effort, if you act responsibly, then you should be able to find a job that pays the bills.  (Applause.)  You should be able to afford a home that you call your own.  You should be able to count on health care when you get sick.  You should be able to put away enough to retire with dignity and respect.  And most of all, you should be able to give your children the kind of education that allows them to dream even bigger and do more than you could ever imagine.  (Applause.)

It’s a simple promise.  It’s a promise that I’ve lived out in my life and Michelle has lived out in hers.  It is --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love Michelle!

THE PRESIDENT:  I know you all love Michelle.  (Applause.) 

It is the promise that’s at the heart of this country -- this idea that here in America, you can make it if you try.  And it had been slipping away for almost a decade.  We had seen sluggish job growth and jobs getting shipped overseas; your incomes were flat or going down; costs of everything from health care to college were going up.  And it culminated in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

Now, we knew that restoring that American Dream would not be easy.  We knew it was going to take more than one year or one term or maybe even one President.  And that was before the middle class got hammered by this recession, and we saw millions of our friends and neighbors get hurt, lose homes, lose jobs. 

But over the last three and a half years, we’ve worked to make progress -- 4.5 million new jobs created; half a million new manufacturing jobs.  They’d counted the auto industry out, and now it is coming back stronger than ever, right here in Ohio and all across the country.  (Applause.) 

We passed health care so you could have security if you get sick.  (Applause.)  We passed reforms to make sure that Wall Street could not act in the same reckless manner that almost brought the economy to its knees.  (Applause.)  We ended the war in Iraq.  (Applause.)  And we’re taking care of our veterans -- because if you fought for this country, you should not have to fight for a job or a roof over your head when you come home.  (Applause.)

Now, we still have a long way to go.  But there’s one thing that this crisis has not changed.  It hasn’t changed who we are. It hasn’t changed our character.  It hasn’t changed what makes us great.  It hasn’t changed what brought us together in 2008.  We just feel a greater sense of urgency about it. 

Our first order of business has been to recover the jobs and wealth that was lost in this crisis.  But we’re not going to stop there.  We’re going to reclaim the financial security that’s been slipping away for more than a decade.  Our job isn’t just to put people back to work.  We want an economy where that work pays off, so that no matter who you are or what you look like or where you come from, here in America, you can make it if you try.  (Applause.)

That’s what this campaign is about -- fighting for the middle class and growing our middle class.  And that’s why I’m running for a second term as President of the United States.  (Applause.)

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

THE PRESIDENT:  Now, there are no quick fixes or easy solutions to the challenges we face.  But there is no doubt in my mind we’ve got the capacity to meet them.  We’ve got the best workers in the world.  (Applause.)  We’ve got the best entrepreneurs in the world.  We’ve got the best scientists and researchers, the best colleges, and the best universities.  (Applause.)  We are still a young nation; we’ve got the greatest diversity of talent and ingenuity -- people want to come here from every corner of the globe.  So no matter how tough things get, this is not a country that quits.  There isn’t a country on Earth that wouldn’t gladly change places with us. 

What’s standing in our way right now is not the lack of good ideas.  What’s standing in our way is our politics.  We’ve got a stalemate in Washington.  We’ve got Republicans in Congress who have clung to the view -- the uncompromising view -- that the only way to move ahead is to go back to the same, tired solutions that got us into this mess in the first place.

AUDIENCE:  Booo --

THE PRESIDENT:  They’ve got a basic theory -- I call it top-down economics.  And the basic idea is, is that if you give more tax breaks to the very wealthy, and you get rid of regulations on banks and polluters and health insurance companies, then somehow everybody is going to prosper.

Ohio, you know better.  We tried that.  It did not work.  America is not built from the top down.  America is built from the middle out.  America is built from the bottom up.  (Applause.)  America is built by farmers and factory workers, and small businesses and companies that send American products overseas, not jobs overseas.  (Applause.)

That’s the country we're fighting for.  That’s the economy that we need to build together.  And we are not going to get there doing the same kind of stuff that these folks are talking about now.  (Applause.)  We're not going to get there if we spend more money on tax cuts for folks like me who don’t need them and were not even asking for them.  (Applause.)

And yet, the centerpiece of my opponent’s entire economic plan is not only to extend the Bush tax cuts, but then to add a new $5 trillion tax cut on top of it.

AUDIENCE:  Booo --

THE PRESIDENT:  The bulk of this would go to the wealthiest Americans.  A lot of it would go to the top 1 percent.  Pay attention here -- folks making more than $3 million a year -- the top one-tenth of 1 percent -- they would get a tax cut under Mr. Romney's plan that is worth almost a quarter of a million dollars -- $250,000 they would save under his plan.

AUDIENCE:  Booo --

THE PRESIDENT:  Hold on, it gets worse.  My opponent says he's going to pay for this $ 5 trillion plan, but under this plan guess who gets the bill for these $250,000 tax cuts?

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE PRESIDENT:  You do.  And you don’t have to take my word for it.  Just today, an independent, non-partisan organization, they crunched all the numbers.  They looked at his plan.  This wasn’t me, it wasn’t my team.  This was an independent group.  One of the guys who did the analysis used to work for Bush.  (Laughter.)  So they found that if Governor Romney wants to keep his word and pay for his plan, this $5 trillion tax cut, the only way to do it is to cut tax breaks that you, middle-class families, depend on --

AUDIENCE:  Booo --

THE PRESIDENT:  The home mortgage deduction you use to pay for your home.  The health care deduction that your employers use to provide you health care.  Some of the tax credits we've put in place to send your kids to college.  What this means is the average middle-class family with children would be hit with a tax increase of more than $2,000.

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE PRESIDENT:  Now, I think a lot of people are willing to sacrifice to bring down the deficit, to defend our country.  But he's not asking you to contribute more to pay down the deficit.  He's not asking you to do it to invest -- I'm sure they're okay. Sometimes folks faint because they've been standing too long.  So we just need a paramedic right here in the front.  They'll be okay, just give them room.  That's all.  This happens to me all the time.  (Laughter.)  It means I've been talking too long.

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE PRESIDENT:  They'll be okay, just give them space. 

Now, let me make sure people understand this.  They're asking you to pay an extra $2,000 not to pay down the deficit, not to invest in our kids’ education -- Mr. Romney is asking you to pay more so that people like him get a tax cut.

AUDIENCE:  Booo --

THE PRESIDENT:  In order to afford -- we can break it down further.  In order to afford just a tax cut for somebody like Mr. Romney, 125 families like yours would have to pay another $2,000 in taxes each year -- and every year.  Not just one year, every year.   

Now, does that sound like a plan you can afford?

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE PRESIDENT:  How many people like that plan?

AUDIENCE:  None!

THE PRESIDENT:  Does that sound like the kind of future that our country can afford?

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE PRESIDENT:  Ohio, we do not need more tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.  We need tax cuts for working Americans.  (Applause.)  We need tax cuts for families who are trying to raise their kids, and trying to keep them healthy, and trying to send them to college, and trying to put a roof over their heads. (Applause.)  We don’t need tax breaks for companies that are shipping jobs overseas -- we need tax breaks for companies that are investing here in Akron, Ohio.  (Applause.)

That’s the choice in this election.  And that’s why I’m running for President of the United States.  (Applause.)  

So I've got a different plan.  I've got a different plan.  Four years ago, I promised middle-class tax cuts -- I kept that promise.  (Applause.)  The typical family is paying about $3,600 less in taxes than they were when I came into office.  (Applause.)

So what I've said is let's keep taxes exactly where they are on the first $250,000 of everybody’s income.  So if your family makes under $250,000 -- like 98 percent of American do -- you won’t see your income taxes increase by one single dime.  (Applause.)

Now, if you’ve been lucky or you've been successful, so that you're in the other 2 percent of Americans, like I am, all we’re asking is that we pay a little bit more so that we can pay down our deficit and so we can invest in things like education that will help us grow.  (Applause.)  

And, listen, Akron, I don't believe government can solve every problem.  Not every government program works.  Government can't help somebody who doesn’t want to help themselves.  So we're cutting things that don't work.  I've already cut a trillion dollars' worth of spending.  But we've got to balance that.  And I'm not going to pay for massive new tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires by gutting the investments that we need to keep the middle class strong.  (Applause.)  

I want to make sure we're investing in hiring new teachers, especially in math and science.  (Applause.)  I want to make sure that we're putting folks back to work rebuilding our roads and our bridges, our airports.  (Applause.)  I want to make sure that we're investing in our community colleges so they can train people for the jobs that businesses are hiring for right now.  (Applause.)  I want to make sure we're investing in basic science and research to keep our technological edge.  (Applause.) 

And if we're going to bring down our deficit and do those things, and make sure that Medicare is there for our seniors, and make sure Social Security is there for our seniors -- (applause) -- then we've got to make choices.  And all I'm asking is the folks like me and Mr. Romney go back to the rates that we paid under Bill Clinton.  (Applause.)  And if you remember, that was when the economy created nearly 23 million new jobs, the biggest budget surplus in history, and -- here's the kicker -- it was good for folks at the top, too.

Because here's what happens.  When middle-class folks and folks who are working to get into the middle class, when they're getting a decent wage, when their tax bill isn't too high, they've got a little more money in their pockets, and then they go to the store and they buy a new appliance, or they finally get rid of that old beater and buy a new car, and maybe a student buys a new computer.  And so, suddenly, businesses have customers.  And that's how we make the economy grow.  (Applause.)

So, Ohio, look, this is a choice.  If you believe that Mr. Romney's plan will make you better off --

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE PRESIDENT:  -- if you believe it’s okay to just set our sights lower -- we can't afford to help young people go to college, we can't afford to rebuild our roads, we can't afford basic research -- if you believe that, then go ahead and send these folks to Washington for the next few years.

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE PRESIDENT:  But let me ask you, wouldn’t we be better off if we kept fighting for the things that have always made us strong? 

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE PRESIDENT:  If we fight to make sure our young people get the education they need?  (Applause.)  Are we going to be better off if we developing new energy sources here in America?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE PRESIDENT:  Wouldn’t we be better off if we're investing in manufacturing so we're selling goods stamped around the world, "Made in Akron, Ohio," -- (applause) -- "Made in the United States of America"?  (Applause.)  Will we be better off five years from now, or 10 years from now, or 20 years from now if we've got the courage to keep working, to keep striving, to keep fighting for what's true and right and best about America?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s what I believe.  That’s why I’m running for President.  (Applause.)

I want you to know, Akron, my hair may be grayer -- (laughter) -- but my determination is stronger than ever.  (Applause.)  My faith in the American people, my faith in you is stronger than ever.  (Applause.)  And if you still believe in me like I believe in you -- if you're willing to stand with me, and organize with me, and march with me, and vote with me, knock on some doors with me, and make some phone calls with me, and recruiting your friends and neighbors with me -- (applause) -- I promise you we will win the state of Ohio -- (applause) -- we will win this election.  We will finish what we started and we will remind the world why the United States of America is the greatest nation on Earth.  (Applause.)

God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

END
3:56 P.M. EDT