The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
May 12, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady at North Carolina A&T University Commencement

Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, North Carolina

10:44 A.M. EDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Good morning, everyone.  (Applause.) 
 
AUDIENCE:  Good morning.
 
MRS. OBAMA:  You all, rest yourselves.  (Laughter.)  First of all, let me thank Chancellor Martin for that very kind introduction.  I also want to thank Davonta and everyone from the Board of Governors, the Board of Trustees, the faculty, and all of the staff here who have worked so hard on this event and on making you the men and women that you are.
 
I also have to thank the University Choir.  You all are amazing.  (Applause.)  As the Chancellor said, you all are becoming regulars at the White House, and that’s a good thing, singing at our Black History Month events for the last two years.  It's just amazing to hear those voices pouring through the White House.  It's very powerful, and it is obviously such a pleasure to hear your beautiful music here today.
 
And of course, I want to join in on thanking all the folks who have made this day possible, the people who have been with you all every step of the way –- yes, your families, including all those watching on campus or at home. 
 
These folks have given you that shoulder to lean on, and that hug when you’ve done well, and maybe that kick in the butt when you need to do a little bit better, right?  (Laughter.)  And none of you would be where you are today without their love and support.  So, again, let’s give them all another round of applause, because today is their day too.  (Applause.)
 
And most of all, I want to thank this fine-looking group right in front of me –- (applause) -- the graduates of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Class of 2012!  (Applause.)  Congratulations!  You all have worked so hard and I know you have grown so much, and you’ve come to truly represent a little something called Aggie Pride!
 
AUDIENCE:  Aggie Pride!  (Applause.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  All right!  I like that.  (Laughter.) 
 
Let me tell you, it is an honor to be here at North Carolina A&T, a true honor.  You all have such a proud tradition here in Greensboro.  For years, you have produced more African American engineers –- and more African American female engineers –- than just about anywhere else in America.  (Applause.)  
 
You have produced some of our nation’s finest leaders in business, government, and our military.  (Applause.)  The first African American Justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court was an Aggie.  (Applause.)  So was the second African American astronaut.  (Applause.)  And so were those four young men who sat down at a lunch counter 52 years ago and will stand forever in bronze in front of the Dudley building.  (Applause.)  
 
Now, I know that all of you know the story of the Greensboro Four and how they changed the course of our history.  But since we have the nation watching, let's talk a little bit.  (Laughter and applause.) 
 
It’s easy to forget that before they were known as heroes, they were young people just like all of you -- even younger.  They were freshmen here at A&T.  Three of them grew up right here in North Carolina; they all lived on the same floor in Scott Hall.  They weren’t trailblazers or legends back then.  So we have to ask ourselves, how did these young men get from where they were to the history books?  And believe it or not, the spark might have come on a bus ride. 
 
One of the four, Joseph McNeil, had spent Christmas in New York, and he took a bus from there back to school here in Greensboro.  When the bus stopped in Philadelphia, he could eat wherever he chose.  But when he got off the station in Greensboro, the food counter here wouldn’t serve him.
 
Now, this wasn’t exactly new.  Joseph had lived with these boundaries for years.  But this time, it really hit him.  And although he was the exact same person in Greensboro that he’d been just a few hours earlier in Philly, he was made to feel like a fraction of the man he had become.
 
Here in the state where he was born and raised, in the city where he was working so hard to get an education and grow into a responsible, self-respecting man, he was treated like he didn’t even matter; like he wasn’t even welcome in the place he called home.  Imagine the humiliation he must have felt.  Imagine his pain and his outrage.
 
So when Joseph got back to his dorm room that night, his mind was probably already racing.  He started talking to his roommates; they pulled in two friends from down the hall, and together over the next couple of weeks they decided to do more than just talk.  They decided to act.  And on a Monday afternoon, the four of them met up after class and headed downtown. 
 
And I’m sure their hearts were racing.  I’m sure they’d barely slept the night before.  Remember, everything was on the line for these young men.  They were considered the lucky ones.  They were some of the very few African American young people at the time who had the chance to attend college.  They were on the path to achieve something that most black folks could only dream of.  And here they were, risking all of that for what they believed in.
 
This was something that a lot of people -- black folks back then -- didn't do because the stakes were so high.  Because remember, this was 1960, and if you used the wrong water fountain, or sat on the wrong seat on the bus, or stepped your foot in the wrong part of the theater you might get heckled or spat on or beaten -- or even worse. 
 
So as they were walking downtown, one of the four was actually wondering to himself whether he’d wind up coming back to campus in a pine box.  But when they got downtown and saw that Woolworth’s sign, there was no turning back.  They sat down on those four stools at the lunch counter and ordered coffee.  They were refused, but they didn’t get up.  
 
And that first day, they were there for just an hour or so.  Then they went back to campus and told other students what they’d done -- and some didn’t even believe them.  But the next day, about 20 more students showed up.  And within a week, it was more than a thousand. 
 
In the coming weeks and months, the demonstrations spread from Greensboro to places like Richmond, and Nashville, and Jackson and more than 50 other cities all across the country.  (Applause.)  And by end of July, Woolworth’s -- one of the biggest chain stores in the world -- was forced to end their policy of discrimination.  And the Civil Rights movement was growing stronger every day.  (Applause.) 
 
And all of this started because of a bus ride and some dorm room conversations.  It all started because a small group of young people had their eyes open to the injustices around them.  It all started because they decided, as one of the four told the newspaper on the first day of the protests, that it was “time for someone to wake up and change the situation.”  And that, more than anything else, is the story of our nation’s progress right from the very beginning. 
    
It’s the story of the farmers and cobblers and blacksmiths who took on an empire; the abolitionists who ran that Underground Railroad; the women who mobilized; the workers who organized; the individuals of every background, color, creed and orientation who worked in ways large and small to give us the country that we have today.  Every single one of them decided that at some point, it was time to wake up and change the situation. 
 
And that is what I want to talk with all of you about today –- how all of the work and the sweat and the passion that so many people poured into this country must be met with work and sweat and passion of our own.  (Applause.)  And as graduates of this proud university, as young people like those who always stoked the fires of progress, our country is counting on all of you to step forward and help us with the work that remains.  We need you. 
 
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that it can be easy to lose sight of that responsibility -- especially when you first graduate from college.  You’re struggling to pay off your student loans, and you’re putting in extra hours to make a name for yourself at work.  You’re trying to figure out who you want to spend the rest of your life with.  Oh yeah, and I remember that like it was yesterday.  (Laughter.)
 
Like all of you, I worked hard all through school.  I earned my BA, my JD -- and I had the student loans to show for it.  So I did what I thought I should do -- I got a great job at one of the biggest law firms in Chicago, and before long, I was checking all the boxes you were supposed to check.  Fat paycheck -- got it.  Nice car -- got it.  Big, fancy office -- got it.
 
But then, when I was 26 years old, one of my best friends from college died of cancer.  Like that, she was gone.  Less than a year after that, my father died after battling multiple sclerosis for years.  Just like that, I’d lost two of the people I loved most in the world. 
 
So there I was, not much older than all of you, and I felt like my whole world was caving in.  And I began to do a little bit of soul searching.  I began to ask myself some hard questions.  Questions like:  If I die tomorrow, what did I really do with my life?  What kind of a mark would I leave?  How would I be remembered?  And none of my answers satisfied me.
 
I had everything I was told I should want, but it still wasn’t enough.  And I realized that no matter how long I stayed on that job, no matter how many years I pursued someone else’s definition of success, I was never going to have a life that felt like my own. 
 
And so, to the surprise of my family and friends, I quit that high-paying job and I took a job in the mayor’s office.  That hurt.  (Laughter.)  Then, as the Chancellor said, I became the executive director of Public Allies, a nonprofit organization that trained young people to pursue careers in public service. 
 
Oh, I was earning a fraction of my law firm salary, and I added years to my student loan repayment process.  But let me tell you, I woke up every morning feeling engaged and inspired in ways that I had never felt before.  (Applause.)  I spent every day feeling like I was doing something that truly made a difference in people’s lives.  And twenty years later, looking back on my journey, I see that all of that started with those questions I asked myself in that law office. 
 
So today, as you all are looking ahead toward your own journeys, I would like to pose three of those questions to all of you. 
 
The first question I asked myself was, “Who do I want to be?”  Not what do I want to be, but who.
 
And it’s so easy to think about your future as a series of lines on a resume.  In many ways, that’s how our society is wired.  And as an adult, when you meet somebody new, they often ask you -- the first question -- they say, what do you do?  And you quickly give the simplest answer -- I'm a nurse, I'm an engineer, I'm a teacher, I'm a lawyer, whatever it is -- and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.  A meaningful, fulfilling career that -- can be the cornerstone of a happy life. 
 
But I also want to stress that your job title and responsibilities, those things are merely what you do, and they will always be.  They are not who you are.  (Applause.)
 
So as you all are thinking about your careers, I want you to think about what’s important to you.  How does your job fit into a full life -- a complete life?  How are you going to give back?
 
Are you going to be an engineer, or are you going to be an engineer who volunteers in a science class at a local school twice a week?  (Applause.)  Are you going to go into business, or are you going to be the CEO who sponsors community theater productions, and those 5K runs, and the local little league team? 
 
Who are you going to be?
 
Are you going to be the nurse who serves in the National Guard every other weekend, and writes the weekly bulletin for church?  Are you going to be the award-winning journalist who raises a beautiful family, who serves on the PTA, who drives the carpool, who was in every single way -- voted in every election, every year, every single year?
 
It is critical that you start thinking about these things now, and keep coming back to them.  Because I'm going to warn you –- those daily to-do lists that will creep up on you, those deadlines at work, the pressure to keep climbing and achieving and acquiring –- trust me, all of that adds up.  It forms a powerful current.  And if you’re not focused on who you want to be and how you want to live your life, trust me, it will sweep you away. 
 
So you have got to keep your bearings.  You’ve got to figure out what matters to you and stay true to those values.  You’ve got to keep your eyes open as you make your way in the world.
 
And that leads me to my second question.  I want you to ask yourselves, “What’s going on in the world around me?” 
 
It’s true that the world is different today than it was for the Greensboro Four and others who came before them.  You won’t see any “whites only” water fountains.  You won’t see women turned away at the polls.  You may not hear the words of hatred and discrimination every day.  And all of that, those are signs of how much progress that we've made.  But we all know that there are still plenty of serious injustices crying out for our attention.  (Applause.)  We know this.
 
Yes, we outlawed segregation in our public schools nearly sixty years ago, but we all know that every child is not getting the same quality of education today.  (Applause.)  That we know.
 
Yes, women gained the right to vote nearly a century ago, and women now make up nearly half of our work force -- yet they still earn only 77 cents for every dollar a man earns, and for African American women, it’s just 64 cents.  (Applause.)  
 
Yes, we passed a federal hate crimes law, but we all know that prejudice of all kinds exists -- all kinds -- for all kinds of people.  Too often that still remains.
 
So take a look around, and I guarantee you that you will see that there is plenty of work left to be done. 
 
Maybe it’s the school on the other side of town with crumbling classrooms and a couple of old computers, and teachers who are as outnumbered as they are overworked.  Or maybe it’s the cash-strapped homeless shelter that keeps dozens of people warm every night, but their grant money ran out.  Maybe it’s the city hall in dire need of fresh ideas.  Maybe it’s a river lined with trash. 
 
Everywhere we look, there are wrongs just waiting to be made right.  But again, I warn you –- those wrongs won’t go away.  And they will entrench themselves deeper and deeper unless we act.
 
And that leads me to the third and final question.  We need you to ask yourselves:  "How can I help?"  It’s a simple question.  "How can I help?"  And the answers are often obvious. 
 
That failing school?  Volunteer there before work.  Donate your old laptop.  Organize a group to paint a mural on the playground.  The homeless shelter in danger of shutting its doors?  Start a fundraising drive.  That filthy river bed?  Put on some gloves and pick up a bucket.  Those nationwide inequalities?  That stagnant city hall?  Immerse yourselves in information.  Become familiar with your elected representatives.  Vote –- not just once in a while, but every year, in every election.  (Applause.)  And even better, run for a seat at the table yourself.  
 
The fact is, we simply cannot move forward unless all of us are engaged.  And being engaged means not simply recognizing what’s wrong, not simply complaining about and talking about our problems, but acting.  It means waking up and changing the situation.  And that’s a lesson that so many of you have already begun to learn during your time here at A&T. 
 
This year alone, students at this university have volunteered nearly 35,000 hours of service.  (Applause.)  You’ve mentored your peers and helped young people, students, transition to college.  You’ve marched and walked for causes you believe in.  You’ve cleaned up streets.  You’ve served at the YMCA, Habitat for Humanity and so many other organizations.  And some of you have committed yourselves to serving our country -- including 11 of you who will be commissioned as officers in the Army and the Air Force later this afternoon.  (Applause.) 
 
And with that kind of action and that kind of commitment, all of you have begun to carry on that proud legacy of the Greensboro Four.  And today, I’m reminded of a quote from one of those young men. 
 
Years after he’d made history at that lunch counter, Franklin McCain said these words.  He said:  “This is my country.  I fought for the chance to make it right.  No one's going to deny me the opportunity.  I am going to be a full participant in every aspect of this community, as well as my kids.”
 
That’s what they were fighting for.  That’s why they sat down on those stools -- so that they could be full participants in their communities, and that so could you.  They were fighting so that all of you -- and me -- could have opportunities they couldn’t even imagine.  And look around.  Just look around.  That’s exactly what we’ve got. 
 
We’re not weighed down by the kind of baggage that folks had back then.  We do live in a country that’s more supportive, more open, more inclusive than ever before.  We've got rights and freedoms and possibilities that they would have given anything to have for themselves.  But with all of those advantages comes a set of responsibilities. 
 
We’ve got a responsibility to protect the ground that’s already been won, because it can just as easily be lost.  (Applause.)  It can be gone.  We’ve got a responsibility to live up to the legacy of those who came before us by doing all that we can to help those who come after us.  That’s how we’ve always made progress -- each generation doing its part to lift up the next. 
 
Each generation does its part to perfect our union.  Each generation looks at the world around them and decides that it’s time to wake up and change the situation.  And we’ve always looked to our young people to lead the way.  We always have. 
 
So graduates, now it’s your turn.  It’s time for you to take that baton.  Take it.  It’s time for you to carry the banner forward.  It’s time for you to wake the rest of us up and show us everything you’ve got.
 
That’s what Aggies like you have always done.  (Applause.)  And that is your history, and that is your legacy.  That is who you are.  Never forget that. 
 
And let me tell you something -- that is why me and my husband and the folks all across this country, man, we are so proud of you all.  We are so proud.  And because of you, we are so hopeful about our future.  Yes we are.  Know that.  (Applause.) 
 
So graduates, I love you all.
 
AUDIENCE:  We love you too!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  I cannot wait to see that all you will achieve and all that you will contribute in the years ahead.  You have everything before you.
 
God bless you all, and good luck.
 
END               
11:08 A.M. EDT
 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 12, 2012

Remarks by the President and the Vice President Honoring the Winners of the National Association of Police Organizations Top Cops Award

Rose Garden

11:13 A.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Welcome.  Welcome to the Rose Garden.  Welcome to the White House.  Please be seated, please be seated.  And congratulations.  It’s a great honor to be here with the best of the best, and equally as impressive for us to be here with the families of the best of the best.

Dean, how you doing?

The officers here today have been singled out for extraordinary acts of bravery, and you’re a remarkable group of people.  You’re made of that sterner stuff, and the best we have in this country.

But you’re not only the people who risk your lives to protect all of us, you're also the first ones out there to volunteer to lay down the lines of the Little League field.  You’re the first ones to volunteer at youth camps.  You’re the first one to help your neighbor, whether you've got a badge on or not -- don't have a badge on.  You’re a unique bunch of individuals.

I’ve often tried in all these years of working with you, been trying to figure what is in your DNA, man.  Whatever it is, though, we want to replicate it. 

You deserve not only our thanks and our gratitude, but you deserve our support.  That's why the President has fought so hard to fund the COPS program, the Byrne grants at unprecedented levels -- a billion dollars for COPS in our first year alone.

And earlier this year, finally, because of this man insisting in all the negotiations going on about the budget, finally -- finally -- he was able to sign legislation to secure the D Block, dedicating spectrum to create a national interoperable public safety communications system that you never have to face -- so you never have to face again the dilemmas you saw in New York City on 9/11, in Katrina.  You're actually able to communicate.  And this is the reason why it happened, this man right here.  (Applause.)

Because I want to tell you, they tried to make him have to choose between this and other equally important things he cared about, but this was a showstopper if they weren’t going to go forward with this.  It shouldn’t have taken so long, but it took the leadership of Barack Obama to get it done.

It also takes -- it also takes leadership, the type demonstrated by the President, to stand up for folks who want to take away your collective bargaining rights.  (Applause.)  To say you’ve earned those rights would be the understatement of the day, and they will not be taken away as long as we can do anything about that, or anyone else who cares.  (Applause.)

That's real leadership.  This man has been committed to law enforcement his entire career.  He has never, never wavered from fighting to make sure you guys have the resources you need not only to protect your communities, but to protect one another, to protect your brothers and sisters.  He understands what you know, that having more cops on the street is going to keep you safer; those of you wearing the shield, you are safer when there’s more of you because you have each other’s backs.  And that's why he’s been tireless in fighting to keep as many of you on the job as humanly possible.

I’ve been at this for a long time.  Tommy Nee and his predecessors, all of -- we’ve been good friends for a long, long time.  And I can tell you -- I can say without fear of contradiction, this President feels it in his bones.  He understands.  He understands what you face.  He understands that every day your husband or wife walks out the door -- you family members -- there’s that little shudder because you don't know what’s going to happen.  And we’re both incredibly appreciative for what you do.

The President’s commitment to law enforcement goes to his very core.  Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce to you my friend, the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)  Please, please, have a seat. 

Well, welcome to the White House.  It is wonderful to be with all of you.  It is especially good to be with somebody who has been fighting on behalf of law enforcement all his life.  Everywhere I go, in every community, people see the track record and the legacy of Joe Biden's work when it comes to looking after law enforcement.  And so I just want to thank my Vice President, who has shown leadership in this administration to make sure -- (applause) -- to make sure you guys have what you need.

My Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, is here.  She does outstanding work.  (Applause.)  The director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and a longtime police officer, Gil Kerlikowske, is here.  Give Gil a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  Representative John Conyers is here.  (Applause.)  And of course, I want to welcome the leaders of the National Association of Police Organizations, including your president, Tom Nee.  (Applause.)  Tom told me he just had a new granddaughter.

MR. NEE:  Grandson.

THE PRESIDENT:  Grandson.  What's his name?

MR. NEE:  Nicholas Joseph (ph).

THE PRESIDENT:  Nicholas Joseph (ph).  So give him a round of applause for that.  (Applause.)

You know, I look forward to this event each and every year, because it’s a chance to say thank you.  Every day, hundreds of thousands of law enforcement officers keep our neighborhoods safe, and frankly, they don’t ask for a lot.  They don't ask for a lot of credit.  They don’t go to work planning to be heroes.  They just do their jobs.

But when you put on that badge, you assume a special responsibility.  And every time you put it on, you never know if this day will be the day that you’ve spent your entire career training for -– the day when just doing your job and being a hero are exactly the same thing.  For the men and women standing behind me, America’s Top Cops, that day came.  And when it did, they were ready.  They didn’t flinch.  They didn't back off.  There are people who are alive today only because of their courage.

Now, I had a chance to just shake each one of these individuals' hands and express my appreciation to them personally.  They're a pretty humble group.  Some of them will tell you they don't deserve to be called heroes; they're entitled to their opinion.  (Laughter.)  I disagree with them.  I think they are.  What else do you call a team that takes down a deranged gunman and saves countless lives?  (Applause.)  Or a unit that flies a helicopter into dangerous winds, and pulls off a daring nighttime rescue?  (Applause.)  Or an officer who, after being shot three times, switches her gun from her right hand to her left, so that she can return fire until backup arrives?  (Applause.)

I guarantee you that when the bullets were flying, when lives were on the line, these men and women weren’t thinking about bravery.  They weren’t thinking of themselves.  Instead, they were looking out for their fellow officers, and for the civilians that they swore to protect.  And when they return home, they’ll go back to being just another member of the team.

But they've earned this moment.  Today, we celebrate 34 extraordinary individuals, and we recognize the sacrifices they and their fellow officers make.  Some of our Top Cops are still recovering from gunshot wounds.  I’m sure that many are, even now, thinking of a partner or a teammate who fell in the line of duty.

So we honor their memories today.  We honor all those who have put their lives on the line in order to protect their fellow citizens -– even if they were complete strangers.  I hope that we also pledge to learn something from the example that they set.  Because while most of us will never be asked to run straight into a hail of bullets, or chase down an armed suspect on foot, we also have responsibilities to meet.

For those of us in elected office, that includes helping states and cities to keep first responders on the job.  It includes supporting cutting-edge tools they need, from a high-speed public safety broadband network to a new generation of mobile apps.

Even as we do everything we can to support men and women like our Top Cops, and to make police work safer and more effective, we do have to recognize that one thing will never change.  Our safety will always depend on the quiet heroism of ordinary Americans, like the ones that we recognize today.  We will be forever in debt to those who wear the badge; to men and women with a deep sense of duty, and a willingness to serve and sacrifice on our behalf.  And I think these individuals don't mind me saying that they are representative of the sacrifices and that quiet courage that exists among law enforcement officers all across the country -- and their families, because I know the strains of families in such a difficult job is significant as well.  And those families, those of you who are here today, we want to say thank you to you as well.

So, again, to the 2012 Top Cops, thank you for everything you do.  God bless you and your families.  And God bless the United States of America.  All right.  (Applause.)

END
11:23 A.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
May 11, 2012

Remarks of Dr. Jill Biden at Southwestern Community College Commencement

Southwestern Community College Commencement
Creston, Iowa
May 11, 2012

As Prepared for Delivery

Good evening, everyone! 

It’s wonderful to be here in Iowa to celebrate such an important day with all of you. 

Thank you, Dr. Crittenden, for that very kind introduction. 

Erica, thank you for your wonderful remarks – we’re so glad you’re recovering from the injuries caused by the tornado. 

I know you’ve all had a tough month since the storm. 

I also know that the community support in the aftermath has been incredible … hundreds of volunteers showing up to help in the clean-up so that everyone could get back to class.  What an inspiring community!

Some of you know my story.  I’ve been a teacher for more than 30 years, and I continue to teach full-time at a community college in Northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC. 

In fact, just last week I finished my semester.  And while I’m happy to be done, I know I will miss my students.  I imagine many of your professors feel the same way. 

And I can imagine how you students feel.  Proud.  Relieved.  And, yes – excited about the next challenge. 

When I’m not in the classroom teaching, I’m often on the road visiting community colleges.  Earlier this year, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and I toured five states to see some of the incredible industry partnerships that are helping students, employers, and communities all over the country.

What I’ve seen at every community college I have visited over the last four years is the story of hope.

Hope for workers, who have gone as far as they can go in their jobs … and are getting the skills they need to go on to the next level.

Hope for moms, juggling kids and a job, learning new skills for a new career.

Hope for recent high school graduates, taking that critical step toward a four-year degree.

Hope for people in their forties, fifties and even sixties – who have been out of work so long that they’ve nearly given up – getting the second chance they deserve. 

Some of these descriptions may sound familiar to you.

College is a place that changes lives, for the better.  I’ve seen it firsthand. 

From my perspective as a teacher, it’s easy for me to see how my students change.  But one thing I’ve realized is that the students don’t always see it in themselves. 

Every day, you’re working hard.  Every day, you’re learning something new.  Every day, you’re investing in yourselves.

So as you’re finishing all those papers and finals and projects, you might not realize the dramatic progress that you’ve achieved.

What you’ve done these past few years – putting in all those hours – has given you the tools to build a career and pursue the life you’ve dreamed of.

As you embark on that journey, there are three lessons I’ve learned that I’d like to share with you.  Three lessons that really stand out to me.  Three lessons that can apply wherever you are in life – inside or outside a classroom.

They are pretty simple.

The first is: lift up others.

That’s something Eric Mahoney’s been doing for years.

Eric’s no stranger to service.  A 12-year U.S Army veteran, Eric served in Bosnia and in Iraq for three tours of duty before his honorable discharge in 2008.

When he got home, Eric knew he wanted to keep helping others so he went to work in a hospital.  Then in 2010 he lost his job – but he never lost his spirit. 

Later that year, he enrolled at Southwestern where he’s kept on helping others.  Through the TRiO Student Support Services program, Eric has tutored his fellow students in math courses – from algebra to trigonometry.

Eric, a dad of three “wonderful” kids, is graduating today with his associate of arts degree.  He will begin classes at Iowa State this summer toward his bachelor’s in electrical engineering. 

Eric’s not the only graduate in the family.  His wife, Stephanie, is also graduating.  She wants to go on to get her bachelor’s and eventually become a social worker.

Eric and Stephanie, thank you for your service to our country, and congratulations.

The second lesson is: go to your strength.

This is about following your heart, and trusting yourself to do whatever it is that you know you do best.

Keenan Joiner originally came to Southwestern to pursue basketball.  But during his time here, he has succeeded not only on the basketball court, but also in the classroom. 

As captain of the basketball team, Keenan says he believed he should be responsible for setting the tone for his teammates in athletics – and academics.

Not only has he set the tone, he has done a lot to make the team successful.  Keenan led the team in assists – pretty rare for a forward.  But Keenan’s strength is making everyone around him better – so that’s what he does.

And that’s what he’ll do after graduation, too.  Keenan is headed to Grand View University in Des Moines where he will study sports physiology – and keep making his teammates better on the basketball court.

The final lesson is: never stop learning.

I always say my students are my heroes.  It’s true – every day I am in the classroom, I’m learning from them.  And I am inspired … by their hard work, by their dedication, and by their sacrifice.

For nearly 19 years, Donna Larkin commuted to her job in Red Oak.  During that time, she became a single parent to her daughter, Jessica.  And her life became more challenging when she was laid off after the CDS Red Oak plant closed.

After evaluating her options, Donna decided to go back to school for something she’s loved since she was a kid – automotive.  She says she used to drive her dad – a retired auto mechanic – crazy with all her questions about how everything worked.

Donna received a diploma in “collision repair and refinish” last June.  This year, she will earn her associate of applied science degree in “collision repair and refinish.” 

And because Southwestern offers an option to gain more skills with another year of training, she will return this fall to obtain the associate of applied science in automotive repair technology.  Now her dad’s going to have to start asking her the questions.

When Donna graduates, she plans to work for an auto shop in the Villisca area.  Donna has never stopped learning – and is well on her way toward her ultimate goal of owning and running her own shop.

Donna, congratulations. I’m so proud of you – and I know your daughter Jessica, and your grandchildren – Syril and Liz – have a great role model to look up to.

…Lift up others

…Always go to your strength

…And never stop learning

Three lessons to live by…

Three lessons exemplified by all the graduates in this room.  All of you.

Because no matter how hard it got…and I know there’ve been hard times…you never lost your faith in yourself and what you can do. 

Maybe you took a chance.  Maybe you learned something new.  Maybe you discovered a strength you never knew you had. 

But one thing is for certain – whatever it was that got you here today – it’s lifting up all of us.  Making us better.  As individuals.  As communities.  As a country.

I will close with a quote by Michelangelo.

Most people think of the famous ceiling of the Sistine Chapel when they hear the name Michelangelo.  But interestingly enough, Michelangelo resisted painting – he considered himself a sculptor.

It was as a sculptor that he shared these words: “I saw an angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”

There is an angel in each of you.  You might not see it today, but it’s there.

The degree you’ve earned is your chisel, giving you the tools you need to help build the life you want to live.

You all have something that makes you come alive.  That’s your angel in the marble.  Find it – and carve and carve – until you set it free.

So today, reflect on how far you’ve come.  And give thanks for the strength and resilience of this amazing community.  And, then tonight, celebrate your hard-earned achievement with your friends and family. 
 
You have a whole world in front of you, and the determination to take you anywhere you want to go.

On behalf of President Obama, the First Lady and the Vice President, my husband Joe – we are proud of you.  We look forward to all that is to come – congratulations!

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 11, 2012

Remarks by the President on Helping Responsible Homeowners

Private Residence
Reno, Nevada

12:00 P.M. PDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, good afternoon, everybody.  (Applause.)  And thank you for arranging a beautiful day.  This is just a spectacular afternoon and I’m thrilled to be here.

We all know how difficult these past few years have been for this country, but especially for this state.  After the worst recession in our lifetimes -- a crisis that followed the collapse of the housing market -- it’s going to take a long time for the economy to fully recover.  More time than any of us would like.  But there are plenty of steps that we can take to speed up the recovery right now.  There are things we can do right now to help create jobs and help restore some of the financial security that too many families have lost. 

Now, I have to say that there are a few too many Republicans in Congress who don’t seem to be as optimistic as we are.  They think that all we can do are try the things that have been done in the past -- things that they’ve tried in the past.  So they want to cut more taxes, especially for the wealthiest Americans.  They want to cut back on the rules that we put in place for banks and financial institutions.  They’ve said that they want to let the housing market hit bottom, and just hope for the best.  That’s it.  We’ve heard those ideas before.  That’s their economic agenda.  And I’ll be honest with you, I don’t buy it.  I think they’re wrong. 

We tried their ideas for nearly a decade and they didn’t work.  And I refuse to sell this country short by going back to the exact same ideas that helped to get us in this mess in the first place.  Our goal is to build an economy where hard work and responsibility are rewarded -- where you can find a good job, make a good wage, own your own home, maybe start a business, send your kids to college.  Hopefully, their lives will be even better than ours.  That’s what I wish for Malia and Sasha, and I know you guys feel the same way who have kids.  

And that’s where we need to go.  I’ve been pushing Congress to help us get there by passing a few common-sense policies that we’re convinced will make a difference.  We even made a handy “To-Do” list for Congress so they can just check them off -- it’s a list like Michelle gives me.  (Laughter.)  I know Paul is familiar with that list.  He gets it from Val.

Now, there are only five things on this list -- because I don’t want to overload Congress with too much at once.  But they’re ideas that will help create jobs and build a stronger economy right now. 

So first up on the list -- it makes absolutely no sense that we actually give tax breaks to companies that ship jobs and factories overseas.  That doesn’t make any sense at all.  (Applause.)  So we told Congress it’s time to end the tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, and use that money to cover moving expenses for companies that bring jobs back to America.  (Applause.)

Second, instead of just talking about job creators, Congress should help small businesses and help small business owners who create most of the new jobs in America.  So we want to give them a tax break for hiring more workers and paying them higher wages. 

The third thing on our “To-Do” list -- Congress should extend tax credits that are set to expire for our clean energy companies.  These businesses are putting folks to work here in this state of Nevada.  Last time I was here, in fact, I went to see a huge solar plant, solar energy plant.  A lot of folks are working both in the construction of it and maintaining it.  That’s happening all across the country.  And so we’ve got to make sure that we are helping those folks, because that helps us break our dependence on foreign oil.  Over the long term that will help drive down gas prices and it puts people to work right now.  It’s the right thing to do.  (Applause.)

Fourth, Congress should create a Veterans Jobs Corps so that we can help communities hire returning heroes -- our veterans -- as cops and firefighters and employees at national parks -- because nobody who fights for this country should ever have to come home and fight for a job or fight for a roof over their heads.  (Applause.)       
                     
All right, so that’s four -- which brings me to the fifth.  The fifth thing on the list, and that’s why I’m here today.  I’m calling on Congress to give every responsible homeowner the chance to save an average of $3,000 a year by refinancing their mortgage.  It’s a simple idea.  (Applause.)  It makes great sense.  And I know it will have an impact.  

Last October, I was in Clark County, where I announced new steps to help responsible homeowners refinance their homes.  And at the time, Congress wasn’t willing to act, so we did.  We went ahead and did what we could do administratively, without a new law being passed.  And as a result, Americans who were previously stuck in high interest loans have been able to take advantage of these lower rates.  And they’ve been able to save thousands of dollars every year.

And it turns out that two of those people are your neighbors, Paul and Valerie Keller.  (Applause.)  So I just had a chance to visit with Paul and Valerie and look at their beautiful home and check out the grill out back.  (Laughter.)  Valerie says Paul is a pretty good cook, so I’m going to take her word for it.

The Kellers have lived in this house for 14 years.  Val works nearby, helping secure loans for farmers and ranchers.  Paul is a retired electrical contractor who started a family business with their son.  Last year, with mortgage rates at historic lows, the Kellers decided it would make sense for them to refinance.  They thought it would be easy, since they’re current on their mortgage, they make their payments on time.  So this is an example of responsible homeowners doing the right thing.

But when they tried to refinance, they were told they couldn’t do it.  Because the Kellers’ house, like thousands of others in this state and probably some of the neighbors here, their house is underwater, which means that the price is currently lower than what they owe on it.  So they were hit -- you were hit with a historic drop in housing prices which caused the value of the homes in their neighborhood to plummet.  And a lot of banks historically have said, well, we’re not going to refinance you if your home is underwater.

Now, luckily, the Kellers saw my announcement that I had made down in Clark County.  So I’m assuming it must have been Val because whenever something smart is done, it’s usually the wife in the house.  (Laughter.)

So they called their lender, and within a few months, within 90 days, they were able to refinance under this new program that we set up.  Their monthly mortgage bill has now dropped $240 dollars a month, and that means every year they’re saving close to $3000.  (Applause.)

Now, Val says that they’ve been talking to some of their neighbors -- maybe some of you are here today -- and you’re saying, well, that sounds like a pretty good idea.  And a lot of folks across the country recognize this is a smart thing to do not only for homeowners but for our economy, because if Paul and Val have an extra $240, $250 a month, then they might spend it on the local business.  They might go to a restaurant a little more often.  They might spoil their grandkids even more.  (Laughter.)  And that means more money in the economy, and businesses do better, and slowly home prices start rising again.  So it makes sense for all of us.

And the good news is, since I’ve made this announcement, refinancing applications have gone up by 50 percent nationwide and 230 percent here in Nevada alone.  That’s the good news.  People are taking advantage of this.  (Applause.)  That's what we want to see. 

But here's the only catch -- and this is where you come in, because you're going to have to pressure Congress:  The pool of folks who can refinance right now, when their homes are underwater, is still too small.  The reason the Kellers were able to refinance is because the only thing that we could do without congressional action was to give opportunities for refinancing for folks with a government-backed loan, an FHA-backed loan.  But in order to expand that opportunity -- we want to include everybody; people whose mortgages aren't government-backed.  (Applause.)  And in order to do that we've got to have Congress move. 

There’s absolutely no reason why they can’t make this happen right now.  If they started now, in a couple of weeks, in a month, they could make every homeowner in America who is underwater right now eligible to be able to refinance their homes -- if they're making their payments, if they're responsible, if they're doing the right thing.  And think about all those families saving $3,000 on average a month year-- that's a huge boost to our economy.  And for some of you who are underwater, you might say, instead of spending that money I can plow that back into equity in my home, and build that back up, which would further strengthen housing prices here in Nevada and around the country. 

So it's the right thing to do.  There's already a bill in the works.  It's supported by independent, nonpartisan economists.  It's supported by industry leaders.  Congress should pass it right now.  (Applause.) 

And let me just say this -- maybe there are some members of Congress watching.  (Laughter.)  If you need some motivation to make this happen, then you should come to Reno and you should visit with folks like the Kellers.  (Applause.)  I'm not saying the Kellers want all these members of Congress up in their house.  (Laughter.)  It's bad enough having me and Secret Service in there.  (Laughter.)  But at least they -- they probably wouldn't mind saying hello and talking to them here in front of their house.  (Laughter.)  But they should talk to people whose lives are better because of the action that we took. 

All over the country, there are people just like Paul and Val, folks just like you, who are doing everything they can to do the right thing -- to meet their responsibilities, to look after their families, to raise their kids right, give them good values.  You're not looking for a handout.  You just want to make sure that somebody is looking out for you, and that when you do the right thing that you're able to keep everything that you’ve worked for.  That’s what folks are looking for, and that’s what they expect from Washington:  to put the politics aside and the electioneering aside, and just do what’s right for people.  (Applause.)

So I need all of you and everybody who’s watching to push Congress on their “To-Do” list.  Nag them until they actually get it done.  We need to keep moving this country forward.  Send them an email.  Tweet them.  Write them a letter if you’re old-fashioned like me.  (Laughter.) 

But communicate to them that this will make a difference.  It’s one small step that will help us create the kind of economy that all Americans deserve.  And that’s an economy that’s built to last.  An economy where everybody has a fair shot, everybody gets a fair share, everybody is playing by the same set of rules.  That’s what made us great in the past.  That’s what’s going to make us great in the future.

All right.  Thank you, everybody.  God bless you.  God bless America.  And give Paul and Val a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

END               
12:11 P.M. PDT 

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
May 11, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady at Virginia Tech Commencement

Blacksburg, Virginia

12:49 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you all.  Thank you so much.  Well, hello, Hokies!  (Applause.)  I like saying that.  It is such a pleasure and an honor to be here today to celebrate the Virginia Tech class of 2012.  Way to go.  Way to go.

I want to start by thanking President Steger for that very kind introduction, as well as the faculty, the staff, the board.  I also want to thank Senator Warner for his wonderful remarks, especially the "call your mom" part.  I like that.  I want to thank him for his outstanding service and leadership on behalf of this state.  And Senator, I accept your challenge -- (laughter) -- but you've just got to know, I play to win.  (Laughter.)  All right?  I also want to recognize Governor McDonnell and Mrs. McDonnell, who are here not just as Virginia’s Governor and First Lady but as proud parents.  Congratulations to both of you and your family.

And graduates, I have to join in in taking a moment to thank those extraordinary people up in the bleachers with the cameras and the beaming smiles on their faces.  Yes, I’m talking again about your families -- the folks who pushed you and believed in you; the folks who always picked up the phone when you called, even when you were just calling to ask for money.  (Laughter.)  Their love and support has sustained you every step of the way, so, again, let’s give them another round of applause, right?  (Applause.)

And finally, to the class of 2012, you all -- congratulations.  Congratulations.  We are so proud of you for making it to this day.  We are so proud of what you’ve achieved and who you’ve become.  And I know that as one of your commencement speakers today, I’m supposed to offer you all kinds of wisdom and advice and life lessons.  But the truth is, like so many people across this country and around the world, I have been following the journey of this school.  I have witnessed the strength and spirit of the Hokie Nation.  And I think that you all already learned plenty of lessons here at Virginia Tech.

In fact, I feel like all of you have so much to teach all of us.  And that’s really what I want to talk about today.  I want to talk about the lessons that all of us in this country can learn from this university.  I want to talk about what we can learn from the community you’ve built, from the service you’ve performed, and from the future that you all are inventing together.

And I want to start with the lesson that you all have taught us about the power of community.  As you all know and was mentioned earlier, the very first student at this university walked 26 miles just to enroll here.  Now, to normal people that might seem a little excessive, but to anyone who knows anything about Hokie pride, it's that level of enthusiasm that's pretty much par for the course here, right?  Whether you’re walking around campus decked out in your maroon and orange or cheering your hearts out to the opening beats of "Enter Sandman," few can match the school spirit on display here at Virginia Tech.

I even hear that you’ve bred your own variety of flower -- a maroon and orange daylily known as the “VT Spirit.”  And during your first days at this school you learned that when someone asks you “What is a Hokie?” -- what’s your answer?

AUDIENCE:  I am!

MRS. OBAMA:  What is a Hokie?

AUDIENCE:  I am! 

MRS. OBAMA:  And when someone says “Let’s go,” you answer --

AUDIENCE:   Hokies!

MRS. OBAMA:  They told me you’d do that.  (Laughter.)  That's very cool.

And whether you’re celebrating your triumphs or coming together in times of tragedy, what is clear is that you all didn’t just choose to attend a school, you chose to be part of a community.  And that feeling of belonging, those connections to your classmates and professors, I know for so many of you that’s what has made your time here so special.

And I know that some of you might be feeling a little sad about leaving the community that you’ve found here in Blacksburg.  But here’s the thing, graduates, the Hokie community didn’t just happen.  It didn’t just exist on its own.  All of you created it.  You worked hard for it.  You nurtured it every step of the way.  And I want you to know that you can do that again wherever your journey may take you.

Now, it’s going to be a little harder when you’re working a job and raising a family, juggling all the responsibilities of being adult.  But I promise you that no matter where you wind up, you can create a thriving community of your own if you’re willing to put in the same kind of energy and effort that you invested here at Virginia Tech.  

So that means continuing to show up -– but instead of showing up to games and extracurriculars, it might mean attending those town hall meetings, or going to that school assembly, or those neighborhood picnics.  It means reaching out like you did to your classmates here at Virginia Tech -– stopping by to welcome a new neighbor to your block, or bringing over a hot meal for someone who’s going through a hard time.  And it means continuing to serve -– volunteering in your local school, cleaning up your local park, doing your part to help others in need.

And that brings me to the second lesson all of you at Virginia Tech have taught us -– and that is the power of service.  Service is truly at the core of the Virginia Tech experience.  It’s in your motto -– Ut prosim, “That I may serve.”  It was your founding purpose as a land grant school designed to open the doors of higher education to people from all walks of life.  It’s the mission of your Corps of Cadets, men and women who have served this country in every armed conflict right from the beginning.

And every year, Virginia Tech students do tens of thousands of hours of community service here in Virginia and around the world.  I understand this year, through the Relay for Life, you’ve raised more than half a million dollars to fight cancer.  (Applause.)  And at this year’s Big Event, more than 6,800 people volunteered on 990 different projects.  And one of today’s graduates, a young man named Justin Graves, has committed himself to helping at least one person every single day.  Way to go.  As he put it, and these are his words -- Justin said, “Life is all about what you have done for other people.”

And you all haven’t just taught us about the power of service to lift up our families and heal our communities.  You’ve also shown us that through service, we can heal ourselves.  Over the past five years, students here have run memorial projects, building houses, hosting dance workshops, teaching French and German in local schools.  You’ve created a fund to honor the sacrifice of Officer Deriek Crouse.  And through these and so many other acts of service, large and small, you all have helped this community heal.

And years ago, I went through a similar process in my own life.  It was back when I wasn’t much older than all of you.  I had graduated from college and law school, and then I was -- like many of you will be -- up to my ears in debt.  So I went out, and I got a job at one of the largest law firms in Chicago.  And for a while, I was doing everything that I thought I was supposed to do.  I had a fancy office, a big fat paycheck, and a really impressive line on my resume.

But then, when I was 26 years old, one of my best friends from college in the world died of cancer suddenly.  She was gone.  Less than a year later, my father passed away after battling multiple sclerosis for years.  And just like that, I had lost two of the people I loved most in the world.  That was it.  And for months, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.  I had this almost physical sense of loss, this gaping emptiness in my life -- and I couldn’t figure out how to fill it.  I spent a lot of time mourning and questioning and reflecting.  And I thought a lot about everything my dad had done for me during his life.  I thought about how hard my dad worked to provide for our family.  I thought about how, no matter how sick my father was feeling, he still woke up every morning and he did his job at the city water plant, and he did it without complaint or regret. 

And you see, as I tell many people, my dad did not have the chance to attend college himself, but he and my mom they saved and they sacrificed.  They poured everything they had into me and my brother because they wanted us to get an education they could only dream of.  And while pretty much all of my college tuition was covered from loans and grants, my dad still paid a small portion of that tuition himself.  And let me tell you, every semester, he was determined to pay his little contribution right on time.  He was so proud to be sending his kids to college, and he couldn’t bear the thought of me or my brother missing that registration deadline because his check was late.

And as I grieved, I came to realize that the best way for me to honor my dad’s life was by how I lived my own life.  I realized that the best way to fill the hole he had left was to do for other young people what he had done for me.  So I left that fancy law firm, and I wound up ultimately running a non-profit organization that trained young people for careers in public service.  Yes, I took a pay cut that made my mother cringe, and my new office wasn’t nearly as nice as the old one.

But with every student I mentored, with every service project I organized, I felt my grief recede just a little bit.  I still miss my dad, and I always will.  But slowly, I felt myself beginning to heal.  I felt myself becoming whole again.

And all of us go through periods of sadness like this.  All of us do.  We all feel, at times, a little bit lost.  And we all have some kind of emptiness that we’re searching to fill.  And often, it is only through serving others that we find what’s been missing in our own lives.  And like so many of you, through service I was able to find what I needed and carve a path for my life that truly felt like my own.

And that brings me to the final lesson that all of you have taught us -– and that is the power of inventing the future.  And I know you hear this phrase all the time here at Virginia Tech, but today, I just want to pause for a moment on the word “invent.”  Because the phrase isn’t “succeed in the future,” it’s not “plan for the future” or “do the best you can in the future.”  It’s “invent the future.”  And with those three words comes a simple message:  a call to chart your own course and live life on your own terms.  And that’s a lesson that I first learned back when I was a teenager.

And some of you may have grown up like I did -- in neighborhoods where kids had -- very few of them had the chance to go to college; where being teased for doing well in school was just a fact of life; where well-meaning but misguided folks questioned whether a girl with my background could get into the kinds of colleges I dreamed of attending.  But I worked hard, and I did my best to tune out those voices of doubt, including the ones inside my own head.  And eventually, I was accepted to Princeton, and I got that education that my dad had always dreamed of.

But the truth is, graduates, there will always be folks who make assumptions about you based on superficial things like where you’re from, or what you’re wearing, or how you look.  There will always be folks who judge you based on just one thing that you say or do; folks who define you based on one isolated incident.  And here at Virginia Tech, I know you all know a thing or two about what that’s like. 

But you also know that in the end, people can only define you if you let them.  In the end, it’s up to each of us to define ourselves.  It’s up to each of us to invent our own future with the choices we make and the actions we take.  That’s why Norris Hall is now the home of the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention, and West Ambler Johnston Hall will soon be reopened as a new residential college.  That is why this year, on April 16th, you started attending class again, choosing to honor their lives by moving forward with your own.

And that is why, when you all are out there in the world and you meet someone and you tell them that you’re from Virginia Tech, and they say, “Huh, isn’t that the school where” -- I want you to interrupt them right there and say, “Yes, it is the school where we have some of the best academic programs and professors in the country."  That’s what you tell them.  (Applause.)  You tell them, "Yes, it is the school where students are passionate about serving their country and supporting each other.  And by the way, which also has the best campus food you’ll ever eat."  (Applause.)  Who can say that?

You tell them, “Yes, it’s the school where we produce graduates who are leaders in their industries, and pillars of their communities, and who carry their Hokie pride with them every day for the rest of their lives."  You say, “Yes, that is the school I attend.  That is Virginia Tech.”

Graduates, that is who you are.  That is what it means to be part of the Hokie Nation.  And let me just tell you, we are all so proud of you.  And we are all so inspired by you.  And we are all determined to live up to the example you have set.  And in those ways and so many others, yes, we are all still Hokies.

Congratulations again on everything that you’ve achieved.  Thank you all.  God bless you.  (Applause.)

END                    
1:05 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 11, 2012

Remarks by the President at a Campaign Event in Studio City, California

Private Residence
Studio City, California

7:30 P.M. PDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you!  (Applause.)  Good to see you, L.A.!
(Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you so much.  Thank you, everybody.
(Applause.)  Please everybody have a seat.  What a extraordinary evening.  It is wonderful to be with all of you.

A couple of people I want to acknowledge -- first of all, your outstanding Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is in the house.  (Applause.) Where's Antonio?  Right here.  Also the Congressman of this district, somebody who knows foreign policy as well as anybody in Congress and who has just shown extraordinary leadership on so many issues -- Congressman Howard Berman is here.  (Applause.)

I want to thank Jeffery not just for this evening but for his tenacious support and advocacy since we started back in 2007. He has just been consistently been there for me through thick and through thin.  Sometimes the 2008 campaign gets romanticized and everybody says how perfect it was and I have to remind them, no, I was there.
(Laughter.)  And the only person I don't have to remind is Jeffery, because he was there through all the ups and downs.  And occasionally he would call and say, Barack, I don't think things are working the way they're supposed to.  (Laughter.)  But no matter where we were and what phase we were in, in that campaign, he stuck with us.  And over the last three and a half years he's remained just an extraordinary friend.

So, Jeffery, thank you for everything you've done.  (Applause.)

And then I want to thank Clooney for letting us use his basketball court.  (Laughter.)  This guy has been talking smack about his basketball game -- (laughter) -- ever since I've known him.  And we've actually known each other a while.  It was wonderful, walking through the house, and the famous "Hope" poster from the 2008 campaign -- people don't realize that the photograph of me is actually me sitting next to George.  Because George had come into D.C. to advocate on behalf of Darfur and to make sure that we were doing the right thing for so many people who were going through such horrific events, and we struck up a friendship.  And this is the first time that George Clooney has ever been photo-shopped out of a picture.  (Laughter and
applause.)  Never happened before.  (Laughter.)  Never happened before, will never happen again.  (Laughter.)

But the wonderful thing is the artist actually sent George  -- some of you have seen this -- a print with my picture and his picture right next to each other with the same -- in the same format.  Why he said at the bottom, "Dope and Hope" I don't know. (Laughter.)  I don't think that's fair.  That's not fair.  That's not right.  It ain't right.  (Laughter.)

But, look, I cannot take credit for this.  Jeffery can take some credit.  But let's face it, we raised a lot of money because everybody loves George.  (Laughter.)  They like me; they love him.  (Laughter.) And rightfully so.  Not only is he an unbelievable actor, but he is one of those rare individuals who is at ease with everybody, seems to just occupy a constant state of grace, and uses his extraordinary talents on behalf of stuff that's really important.  And he takes time to actually figure out the facts and the issues.  (Applause.)  And so we couldn't be prouder of George.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  And I couldn't be prouder of him as a friend.

I see a lot of familiar faces in the audience, and I'm going to be joining each of you at your table, so I'm not going to take a long time to talk up here.

As Jeffery said, we've gone through three and a half extraordinary years -- as tough as anything that we've experienced in our lifetimes.
It turns out, though, the American people are tougher.  So, yes, we lost almost 8 million jobs during the crisis in 2007-2008, 4 million before I took office, 800,000 the day I was sworn in -- or the month that I was sworn in.  The auto industry was brought to its knees; the banking system locked up -- even as we were still in the midst of two wars and extraordinary terrorist threats from abroad.

And yet despite all this, the American people are pulling through.
And one of the great privileges of being President is you travel around the country and every day there's an affirmation of how decent and how strong and how caring the American people are.  They're not always paying attention to the babble in Washington.  They don't have the time to read big briefing books on the latest ideas for Medicare reform.  But they have good instincts about what's right and what's true.  And it's those instincts and it's that resilience that really has enabled this country to weather an extraordinary storm.

And I've had the great privilege of seeing people in communities all across the country pull together, keep businesses open so that they don't have to lay off their employees, folks who are out of work supporting each other in places of worship and in community centers, raising their kids, making sure that they're getting off to a good start.

And as a consequence, we're now at a place where we've created 4 million jobs in the last two years, 800,000 in the last six months -- or few months alone -- almost a million, actually, in the last six months.  GM is the number-one automaker in the world and, not only that, but they're actually making good cars (applause) -- that people are buying.  The banking system has worked through a lot of these issues and slowly things are coming back.

But as Jeffery said, we still have so much work to do.  There's still so many people out there who are hurting, too many folks who are looking for work, too many people whose homes are underwater, too many communities that aren’t sure about the future, that are anxious -- even if they're doing okay, they're anxious about whether the future is going to be better for their kids and for their grandkids.

And so I always remind people that in 2008, I did not just run to get back to where we were in 2007.  The crisis in a lot of ways was a manifestation of what had been going on for a decade or more -- a sense in which a few of us were doing really well but that that fundamental American promise that if you worked hard, no matter what you looked like, where you came from, what your last name was, who you loved, that you could make it if you tried; that everybody had a fair shot and everybody did their fair share and everybody played by the same rules.  Those basic values had been dissipating for a decade or more.

And so that's the reason why over the last three and a half years, even as we've managed crisis, even as we've ended a war and are in the process of ending another one, even as we went after al Qaeda and have decimated the ranks of their leadership, even as we got the auto industry back to a place where it can now compete internationally, and we unlocked the financial system so that businesses and families could get financing again -- even as we did all those things, we kept our eye on the basic promise of our 2008 campaign.

That's why we worked on health care reform -- not because it was popular, but because it was right.  And as a consequence, 30 million people will have health insurance that didn’t have it before.
(Applause.)  That's why we did Wall Street reform -- not because it was easy or popular, but because it was right, because we can't have a system in which the recklessness of a few can can bring down an entire economy.

That's why we have taken on education, sometimes offending folks in our own party because the status quo of some communities where half the kids are dropping out and only one out of ten are reading at grade level -- we can't compete doing that.

That's why we've doubled clean energy.  That's why we doubled fuel efficiency standards on cars.  That's why we've invested in science and research.  That's why projects all across the country have been built putting construction workers back to work.  All of this has been in pursuit of the goal that we originally talked about in 2008, and that was creating an America where everybody had a shot; where we create a platform where if you are willing to work hard, you can make it.

And that requires us to do things together.  And we're not finished.
We've got a lot more work.  And as we look forward towards this next campaign, the choice between the path that I've set for this country and that of my opponent could not be starker, and the stakes couldn't be higher.  And I won't run through the differences in all the issues.
What it comes down to is they have a different vision about how America works.

See, I think we work best when we're all in it together, when we've all got a stake in each other.  (Applause.)  And I've said this before
-- I believe that -- Malia and Sasha are the most magical girls in the world.  I don't worry about them.  But I think their lives will be better if every child in America has opportunity and a good education and can go to college without worrying about being loaded up with tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt.  That will be a stronger America for them.

And Michelle and I -- people have commented on the fact that I've got gray hair now.  There was a blog post about look how wrinkly Obama is getting.  (Laughter.)  It was sort of distressing.  (Laughter.) George doesn’t have to go through these things.  (Laughter.)

MR. CLOONEY:  Look at me!

THE PRESIDENT:  I like that in you, brother.  (Laughter.)

But Michelle and I will be okay after this is all done.  But our lives are better if, when I'm walking down the street and I see some elderly couple holding hands and they're walking through a park, I know, you know what, they've got Medicare that they can count on, and they've got Social Security that they can count on. They're going to be able to pay the bills and enjoy their retirement.

I remind people when folks talk about the free market, you won't find a bigger advocate for the free market than me, but I also understand the free market works when we've got rules so that folks who are engaging in fair dealing and providing good products and good customer service, that they're not being undercut by folks who are cutting corners and cheating and bilking consumers.

And I'm reminded -- I just came from Seattle -- I told a roomful of folks, some of whom work for Microsoft, Bill Gates is a genius, Steve Jobs is a genius, Mark Zuckerberg, amazing what they've accomplished.
But the Internet doesn’t exist unless all of us together make an investment in something called DARPA that helped develop the Internet.
That was a common enterprise that created this platform for success
-- for everybody.

The other side has got a different view.  Their attitude is you're on your own.  If you're a kid born in a poor neighborhood in LA, tough luck, you're on your own.  If you're a senior citizen who, because of bad luck, got laid off, or the company ended up dissolving without your pension being vested, tough luck.  You didn’t plan well enough.
That's not the America I believe in.  That's not the America you believe in.

And obviously yesterday we made some news, but -- (applause) -- but the truth is it was a logical extension of what America is supposed to be.  It grew directly out of this difference in visions:  Are we a country that includes everybody and gives everybody a shot and treats everybody fairly, and is that going to make us stronger?  Are we welcoming to immigrants?  Are we welcoming to people who aren’t like us?  Does that make us stronger?  I believe it does.

And so that's what's at stake.  Now, I will just close by saying that this is going to be harder than it was the last time. This is going to be harder than it was the last time -- not only because I'm older and grayer and your "Hope" posters are dog-eared -- (laughter) -- 2008 in some ways was lightening in a bottle.  That's not going to be replicated.  And we shouldn’t expect it to -- I've been President for three and a half years.  But part of the reason it's going to be harder is because folks are still hurting out there and those frustrations with Washington and the nonsense they see on the news is making them more cynical than they were in 2008.  So we're going to have to fight against cynicism and a belief that maybe things can't happen and maybe the game is rigged, what's the point.  That's what we're going to be fighting against this time.

And that means we're going to have to work harder.  That means we're going to have to be more determined.  That means that that passion that we brought to bear in 2008 is going to have to express itself maybe not in such flashy form, it's going to have to be steady, but we're going to have to keep those fires burning all the way through November and beyond.  Because I'm not interested in just winning the election; I'm also interested in making sure that we can finish what we started in 2008.  We've still got a lot of work to do.  (Applause.)

So bottom line is I still believe in the American people, and I still believe in you.  And I hope you still believe in me. (Applause.) Because I'm as determined as I've ever been to make sure that this country stays on the right path -- we're moving forward; we're not going backwards.

Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)

END  
7:55 P.M. PDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 10, 2012

Remarks by the President at a Campaign Event -- Seattle, WA

Paramount Theater
Seattle, Washington

3:00 P.M. PDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Seattle!  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  Thank you, Seattle!  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you, guys.  Thank you, everybody.  Please, please, have a seat.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  Thank you.  Thank you, guys.  (Applause.)  Thank you very much.  It’s good to be back in Seattle.  (Applause.)

A few people I want to acknowledge.  First of all, please give a big round of applause to Sue for that unbelievable story, the great introduction, her incredible courage.  (Applause.)  She is just a wonderful person.  And I was saying backstage as I was listening, she’s the kind of story that you don’t read about in the papers.  That’s a story I’d like to read about -- (applause) -- somebody overcoming so many challenges, doing the right thing.  And I could not be prouder to have her introduce me.

A couple of other folks that are here today that I want to acknowledge -- your outstanding Governor, Chris Gregoire.  (Applause.)  Your outstanding Lieutenant Governor, Brad Owen is here.  (Applause.)  One of the best United States Senators in the country, Patty Murray is in the house.  (Applause.)  Former U.S. Representative and soon-to-be governor, Jay Inslee is here.  (Applause.)

I want to thank King County executive Dow Constantine.  (Applause.)  My terrific friend, former King County executive and somebody who did great work for us at HUD in Washington, Ron Sims.  (Applause.)  State party chair, Dwight Pelz.  (Applause.)  And of course, somebody who I just love and I’m just such a huge fan of because he’s a great person in addition to being a great musician, Dave Matthews.  (Applause.) 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  I love you!

THE PRESIDENT:  (Laughter.)  I love you, too.  (Applause.) So, Seattle, I’m here not just because I need your help -- although I do; you’ll hear more about that.  I’m here because your country needs your help.

There was a reason why so many of you worked your hearts out in 2008.  And it wasn’t because you thought it would be easy.  You did support a candidate named Barack Hussein Obama.  The odds are rarely in your favor in that situation.  (Laughter.)  You didn’t need a poll to tell you that might not be a sure thing.

You did not join the campaign because of me.  You came together -- we came together -- because of a shared vision.  We came together to reclaim that basic bargain that built the largest middle class and the most prosperous nation on Earth.

We came together because we believed that in America, your success shouldn’t be determined by the circumstances of your birth.  If you’re willing to work hard, you should be able to find a good job.  If you’re meeting your responsibilities, you should be able to own a home, maybe start a business.  You should be able to give your kids the chance to do even better than you -- no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, no matter what you look like, no matter what your last name, no matter who you love.  (Applause.)

And so we came together.  This wasn’t just about me; this was you guys making a commitment to each other to try to bring about change because our country had strayed from these basic values.  We’d seen a record surplus that was squandered on tax cuts for people who didn’t need them and weren’t even asking for them.  Two wars were being waged on a credit card.  Wall Street speculators reaped huge profits by making bets with other people’s money.  Manufacturing was leaving our shores.  A shrinking number of Americans did fantastically well, but a lot more people struggled with falling incomes and rising costs and the slowest job growth in a century.

So it was a house of cards, and it collapsed in the most destructive, worst crisis that we’ve seen since the Great Depression.  And sometimes people forget the magnitude of it, you know?  And you saw some of that I think in the video that was shown.  Sometimes I forget.  In the last six months of 2008, while we were campaigning, nearly 3 million of our neighbors lost their jobs; 800,000 lost their jobs in the month that I took office.  And it was tough.  But the American people proved they were tougher.  So we didn't quit.  We kept going.  Together we fought back.

When my opponent said we should just let Detroit go bankrupt, we made a bet on American workers, on the ingenuity of American companies, and today our auto industry is back on top of the world.  (Applause.)

We saw manufacturers start to invest in America again, consistently adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s.  Businesses got back to basics, created over 4 million jobs in the last 26 months -– more than 1 million of those in the last six months alone.  (Applause.)  

So we’re making progress.  Are we satisfied?  Of course not.  Too many of our friends, too many of our family are still out there looking for work.  Too many homes are still underwater.  Too many states are still laying off teachers and first responders.  A crisis this deep didn’t happen overnight, and we understand it won’t be solved overnight.  We’ve got more work to do.  We know that.

But here’s what else we know:  That the last thing we can afford is a return to the policies that got us here in the first place.  Not now.  Not with so much at stake.  (Applause.)  We’ve come too far to abandon the changes that we fought for these past few years.  We’ve got to move forward, to the future that we imagined in 2008 -- where everybody gets a fair shot, and everybody is doing their fair share, and everybody plays by the same rules.  That’s the choice in this election.  And Seattle, that’s why I’m running for a second term as President of the United States of America.  (Applause.)

Now, my opponent in this election, Governor Romney, he's a patriotic American.  He’s raised a wonderful family.  He should be proud of the great personal success he's had as the CEO of a large financial firm.  But I think he’s drawn the wrong lessons from those experiences.  He actually believes that if CEOs and the wealthiest investors like him get rich, that the rest of us automatically do, too.  (Laughter.)

When a woman in Iowa shared the story of her financial struggles, he gave an answer right out of an economics textbook.  He said, “Our productivity equals our income,” as if the only reason people can’t pay their bills is because they’re not productive enough. 

Well, that’s not what’s going on.  Most of us who have spent some time talking to people understand that the problem isn’t that the American people aren’t working hard enough, aren’t productive enough -– you’ve been working harder than ever.  The challenge we face right now -– the challenge we’ve faced for over a decade -– is that harder work isn’t leading to higher incomes.  Bigger profits haven’t led to better jobs.
  
What Governor Romney does not seem to get is that a healthy economy doesn’t just mean maximizing your own profits through massive layoffs or busting unions.  You don’t make America stronger by shipping jobs or profits overseas.  (Applause.)  When you propose cutting your own taxes while raising them on 18 million families, that’s not a recipe for economic growth. 

And by the way, there’s nothing new about these ideas.  I’m just starting to pay a little more attention to this campaign here, and -- (laughter) -- I keep on waiting for them to offer up something new.  But it’s just the same old stuff.  (Laughter.)  It’s the same agenda that they have been pushing for years.  It’s the same agenda that they implemented when they were last in charge of the White House -- although, as Bill Clinton pointed out a few weeks ago, this time their agenda is on steroids.  (Laughter.)  This time they want even bigger tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.  This time they want even deeper cuts to things like education and Medicare and research and technology.

AUDIENCE:  Booo --

THE PRESIDENT:  This time they want to give banks and insurance companies even more power to do as they please. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo --

THE PRESIDENT:  Now, somehow they think that these same bad ideas will lead to different results than they did the last time -- or they’re hoping you won’t remember what happened the last time when we tried their bad ideas.  (Laughter.) 

Well, I’m here to say, Seattle, that we were there.  We remember.  We're not going back there.  We're moving this country forward.  (Applause.)  We're moving forward.  We're moving forward.  (Applause.)

Look, we don’t expect government to solve all our problems -- and it shouldn’t try to solve all our problems.  I learned from my mom that no education policy can take the place of a parent’s love and attention, and occasionally, getting in your face.  (Laughter.)  As a young man, I worked with a group of Catholic churches who taught me that no poverty program can make as much of a difference as the kindness and commitment of a caring soul.  (Applause.)

And Democrats, we have to remember some things.  Not every regulation is smart.  Not every tax dollar is spent wisely.  Not every person can be helped who refuses to help themselves.  We believe in individual responsibility.  But that’s not an excuse to tell the vast majority of responsible, hardworking Americans -- folks like Sue who've done all the right things -- “you’re on your own.”  That if you're -- had the misfortune, like most people do, of having parents who may not be able to lend you all the money you need for college, that you may not be able to go to college.  (Applause.)  That even if you pay your premiums every month, you’re out of luck if an insurance company decides to drop your coverage when you need it most.  (Applause.)  

That’s not who we are.  That’s not what built this country.  That's not reflective of what's best in us.  We built this country together.  We built railroads and highways, we built the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge -- we built those things together.  We sent my grandfather’s generation to college on the GI Bill -– together.  We did these things not because they benefited any particular individual, any particular group; we did these things because we were building a platform for everybody to be able to succeed.  We were creating the conditions for everybody to be able to succeed.  These things made us all richer.  They gave us all opportunity.  (Applause.)  They moved us all together, all forward, as one nation, and as one people.

And that’s the true lesson of our past.  We love the free market.  We believe in rewarding entrepreneurship and risk.  But when I hear my opponent and some of these folks talk as if somehow nobody had anything to do with the success of these businesses and our entrepreneurs, I have to remind them that we -- we the people -- invested in creating the Internet that allowed Microsoft and Google and Facebook to thrive.  There's not a business in this country that's not benefiting from roads and bridges and airports -- the investments we make together.  Every time we've got a kid who's getting a great education in a public school and able to go to get an outstanding education at a public university, we're contributing to the possibilities of the free market succeeding.  And that’s the right vision for our future.  That’s the reason I'm running for President, because I believe in that vision.  I believe in that vision.  (Applause.)   

I’m running to make sure that by the end of this decade, more of our citizens hold college degrees than any other nation on Earth.  I want that to happen here in America.  (Applause.)  I want to help our schools hire and reward the best teachers, especially in math and science.  (Applause.)  I want to give 2 million more Americans the chance to go to community colleges and learn the skills that local businesses are looking for right now, because that's what we need in the 21st century.  (Applause.)  Higher education can’t be a luxury.  Education is -- higher education is an imperative that every American should be able to afford -- not just for young people but for mid-career folks who have to retrain, have to upgrade their skills.  That’s the choice in this election.  That’s why I’m running for President.

I’m running to make sure that the next generation of high-tech manufacturing takes root in places like Seattle and Cleveland and Pittsburgh and Charlotte.  I want to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs and profits overseas.  I want to reward companies that are creating jobs here in the United States of America.  That’s the choice in this election.  (Applause.)

I am running so that we can keep moving forward to a future where we control our own energy.  Our dependence on foreign oil is at the lowest point it's been in 16 years.  (Applause.)  Because of the actions we took, by the middle of the next decade our cars will average nearly 55 miles per gallon.  (Applause.)  Thousands of Americans have jobs because the production of renewable energy in this country has nearly doubled in just three years.

So now is not the time to -- (applause) -- now is not the time to cut these investments to pay for $4 billion a year in giveaways to the oil companies.  Now is not -- now is the time to end subsidies for an industry that's just doing fine on its own.  Let’s double down on clean energy that's never been more promising for our economy and for our security and for the safety of our planet.  That's why I’m running, Seattle, and that's the choice in this election.  (Applause.)

For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq.  (Applause.)  Osama bin Laden is no longer a threat to this country.  Al Qaeda is on the path to defeat.  And by 2014, the war in Afghanistan will be over.  (Applause.)

America is safer and it’s more respected because of the courage and selflessness of our diplomats and our intelligence officers, but most of all, because of the United States armed Forces.  (Applause.)

And as long as I’m Commander-in-Chief, this country will care for our veterans, and we will serve our veterans as well as they’ve served us because no one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job or a roof over their heads when they come home.  (Applause.)

My opponent has a different view.  He said it was “tragic” to end the war in Iraq.  He says he won’t set a timeline for ending the war in Afghanistan.  I have set a timeline, and I intend to keep it.  (Applause.)  After a decade of war that’s cost us thousands of lives, that's cost us over a trillion dollars, the nation we need to build is our own.  (Applause.)

So we’re going to use half of what we’re no longer spending on war to pay down the deficit, and we’re going to -- (applause) -- we’re going to invest the rest in research and education, and repairing our roads and our bridges and our runways and our wireless networks.  That's the choice in this election.  (Applause.)

And I’m running to pay down our debt in a way that is balanced and a way that's responsible.  After inheriting a trillion-dollar deficit, I signed $2 trillion of spending cuts into law.  And now I want to finish the job responsibly and properly, streamlining government, cutting more waste -- there’s still more there to be had -- but also reforming our tax code so that it’s simpler and fairer and it asks the wealthiest Americans to pay a little bit more.  (Applause.)

My opponent won’t tell us how he'd pay for his new, $5 trillion tax cut –- a tax cut that gives an average of $250,000 to every millionaire in the country.

AUDIENCE  Booo --

THE PRESIDENT:  So we may not know the details, but we know the bill for that tax cut will either be passed on to our children, or it’s going to be paid by a whole lot of ordinary Americans.  And I refuse to let that happen again.  (Applause.)

We’re not going to pay for another millionaire’s tax cut by eliminating medical research projects into things like ovarian cancer or Alzheimer’s.  I refuse to pay for another tax cut by kicking children out of Head Start programs, or asking students to pay more for college, or eliminating health insurance for millions of poor, and elderly, and disabled Americans on Medicaid.  (Applause.)

And as long as I’m President of the United States, I’m not going to allow Medicare to be turned into a voucher that would end the program as we know it.  (Applause.)  We’ll reform Medicare, not by shifting costs to seniors but by reducing the spending that isn’t making people healthier.  There are ways of doing it that preserve this program that is so vital to so many people.

So Seattle, that’s what’s at stake.  There’s a lot at stake.  On issue after issue, we can’t afford to spend the next four years going backwards. 

America doesn’t need to re-fight the battles we just had over Wall Street reform or health care reform.  Listen to Sue.  Here’s what I know:  Allowing 2.5 million young people to stay on their parents’ health insurance plan -- that was the right thing to do.  (Applause.)  Cutting prescription drug costs for seniors -- right thing to do.  (Applause.)  We’re not going back to the days when insurance companies had unchecked power to cancel your policy, or deny you coverage, or charge women differently from men.  We’re not going back.  We’re going forward.  (Applause.)

We don’t need another political fight about ending a woman’s right to choose, or getting rid of Planned Parenthood -- (applause) -- or taking away access to affordable birth control.  I want women to control their own health choices.  (Applause.)  Just like I want my daughters to have the same economic opportunities as your sons.  We’re not going to turn back the clock.  (Applause.)  We’re not turning back the clock.  

We’re not returning to the days when you could be kicked out of the United States military just because of who you are and who you love.  (Applause.)  We’re moving this country forward.  We are moving forward to a country where every American is treated with dignity and with respect.  And here in Washington you’ll have the chance to make your voice heard on the issue of making sure that everybody, regardless of sexual orientation, is treated fairly.  You will have a chance to weigh in on this.  (Applause.)  We are a nation that treats people fairly.  We’re not going backwards.  We’re not going backwards.  We’re going forwards.  (Applause.)  We’re going forward.  We’re going forward, where everybody -- everybody is treated with dignity and respect.

We will not allow another election where multimillion-dollar donations speak louder than the voices of ordinary citizens.  (Applause.)

And it’s time to stop denying citizenship to responsible young people just because they’re children of undocumented immigrants.  (Applause.)  This country is at its best when we harness the God-given talents of every individual; when we hear every voice; when we come together as one American family -- black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled -- everybody striving for the same dream.  That’s what we’re fighting for.  That’s why I ran for President.  That's why I’m running again for President.  That’s why I need your help.  (Applause.)

You know, Seattle, this election is actually going to be even closer than the last.  And the reason for that is too many of our friends and neighbors, they're still hurting because of this crisis.  And they see what’s going on in Washington, and they don't like it, and so there’s just a frustration level there that will express itself in the election.

And I hear it from too many people who are wondering why they haven’t been able to get one of the jobs that have been created.  Because even if jobs have been created, until you got a job, that jobs report doesn't mean much.  They're wondering why their home is still underwater, or why their family hasn’t been touched by the recovery.  So there’s still a lot of -- a lot of work to be done.  And folks are just -- they get so frustrated about Washington.

And as I said, the other side, they're not going to -- the other side will not be offering these Americans a real answer to their questions.  They’re not offering a better vision.  They're not offering a new set of ideas.  Everybody knows that.  There’s nothing you’ve heard from them where you say, man, I didn't think of that.  (Laughter.)  Now, that's fresh.  That's new.  Maybe that will work.  (Laughter.)  That's not what’s going on here.

What they will be doing is spending more money than we’ve ever seen before on negative ads –- ads that exploit people’s frustration for some short-term political gain.  Over and over again, they’ll tell you America is down and out.  America is not working.  They’ll say, are you better off than you were -- without mentioning that their frame of reference is before the worst crisis in our lifetime.

We’ve seen this play before.  And here’s the thing, the real question, the question that we have to answer, the question that will actually make a difference in your life and the lives of your children and the lives of your grandchildren -– it's not just about how we’re doing today.  It’s about how we’re doing tomorrow and the next day and the day after that. 

Will we be better off if more Americans get a better education?  Will we be better off if we reduce our dependence on foreign oil?  Will we be better off if we start doing some nation-building here at home?  Will we be better off if we're investing in clean energy?  Will we be better off if we ask the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share?  Will we be better off if we invest in new research and science and technology?

When we look back four years from now, or 10 years from now, or 20 years from now, won’t we be better off if we have the courage to keep moving forward? 

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s the question in this election.  (Applause.)  That's the question in this election.  And that outcome is entirely up to you.  You’ll have to contend with even more negative ads, with more cynicism, more nastiness -- sometimes just plain foolishness.  (Laughter.) 

But if there’s one thing that we learned the last time around, one thing we learned in 2008, there is nothing more powerful than millions of voices calling for change.  (Applause.)  When you knock on doors; when you pick up the phone; when you talk to your friends; when you decide it’s time for change to happen, guess what?  Change happens.  Change comes to America.  (Applause.)  And that’s the spirit that we need again. 

If people ask you what this campaign is about, you tell them it’s still about hope.  You tell them it’s still about change.  You tell them it’s still about ordinary people who believe that in the face of great odds, we can make a difference in the life of this country.  (Applause.)

Because I still believe, Seattle.  I still believe.  I still believe we're not as divided as our politics suggest.  I still believe that we have more common ground than the pundits tell us.  I believe we're not Democrats or Republicans first; I think we're Americans first.  (Applause.)  I still believe in you.  (Applause.)  I still believe in you, and that's why I’m asking you to still believe in me.  (Applause.)  I told you in 2008 that I wasn’t a perfect man -- maybe Michelle told you.  (Laughter.)  And I won’t be a perfect President.  But I promised back when I was running that first time that I’d always tell you what I thought, and I’d always tell you where I stood, and I’d wake up every single day fighting as hard as I know how for you.  (Applause.) 

And Seattle, I kept that promise.  I have kept that promise, and I will keep it as long as I have the honor of being your President.  (Applause.)  So if you’re willing to stick with me, if you’re willing to fight with me, if you’re willing to work even harder this election than the last one, I guarantee you we will move this country forward.  (Applause.)  We will finish what we started. 

I’m still fired up.  I’m still ready to go.  And we will show the world why it is that the United States of America is the greatest nation on Earth. 

Thank you, everybody.  God bless you.

END          
3:36 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 10, 2012

Remarks by the President at a Campaign Event

Private Residence
Seattle, Washington

1:00 P.M. PDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Give it up for Libby!  (Applause.)

LIBBY BLUME:  Hello.  Thank you very much for coming.  We're all very honored.  I'm Libby.  I'm the youngest of the Blumes.  And I'm very, very proud to present the President of the United States of America.  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Yay!  Nice job!  (Applause.)

Thank you.  Libby knows the key to good public speaking -- be brief.  (Laughter.)  That always makes people happy.

I just want to thank the entire Blume family -- especially Libby -- (laughter) -- but in addition to Bruce and Ann, their other kids -- Max, Rebecca, Jacob, and Scooter -- for opening up this extraordinary home to us and for their friendship.  I'm so grateful to you guys. 

Thanks for whoever is in charge of the weather.  (Laughter.) I've been told this is typical Seattle weather.  (Laughter.)  But I've been here before so -- (laughter.)

What I'm going to do is actually be pretty brief at the top because what I'd really enjoy is just answering questions and getting comments and kind of hearing what you guys are thinking about. 

We've been through an extraordinary period in American history -- worst financial crisis, worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.  When you think about the Blume family growing up, what a lot of this younger generation has seen is hardship and recession and people being laid off of work.  And yet the good news is that America is full of incredibly resilient, wonderful, decent people who have been willing to buckle down and work through these difficult times, and as a consequence, the country I think is on a path of great strength and great promise.

We've seen more than 4 million jobs created over the last two years, more than 800,000 just in the last four months alone; the greatest increase in manufacturing employment since the 1990s -- a lot of that having to do with an auto industry that has surged back after a period of time when a lot of us thought that they might go under.  Here in this region, the last time I was in Seattle -- I think it was the last time -- we had a chance to visit Boeing, which is as good of a symbol of American ingenuity and American promise -- and I teased the CEO there that I deserve a gold watch because we've been selling a lot of planes all around the world.  (Laughter.) 

And so slowly, in fits and starts, the economy is getting stronger and businesses are starting to invest again.  And in fact, you're starting to see companies that had moved to places like China recognizing why would we abandon the largest market in the world?  Wages are going up in China and workers are getting more productive here -- let's start bringing companies and businesses back.

We've still got headwinds.  Europe is still in a difficult state -- partly because they didn’t take some of the decisive steps that we took early on in this recession.  Gas prices are still pinching a lot of folks.  The housing market is still very weak all across the country.  But the good news is that we have weathered the storm and are in a position now to make sure that the 21st century is the American Century just like the 20th century was.

But in order to do that, we've got to make good choices.  And when I ran in 2008, I did not run just to get the country back to where it was before the crisis -- because there had been problems that had been building for decades.  And so the question was, were we finally going to take on some of these core challenges that had been holding us back for far too long?  And that's the reason why, even as we were trying to manage the auto bailout, even as we were trying to deal with the banks and the fact that credit was locked up, even as we were trying to make sure that we could immediately put people back to work, we were also looking at what are the long-term things that are going to make a big difference in the life of this country?

That's why we took on health care.  And I am very proud of the fact that you got 2.5 million young people who have health insurance because they can stay on their parent's plans right now that didn’t have it before -- (applause) -- and 30 million who stand to get it over the next couple of years.  (Applause.)  That's the reason why we took on energy.  And not only have we increased traditional energy in this country -- oil and gas -- but we're looking at the energy sources of the future and have doubled clean energy investment, and raised fuel-efficiency standards, doubling fuel-efficiency standards on cars, which will not only end up saving about $8,000 for the average consumer over the life of a car, but is going to take huge amounts of carbon out of the atmosphere and is part of what's contributing to some of the lowest levels of oil imports that we've seen in years -- which obviously has national security implications.

It's the reason why we took on education.  And in addition to investing in reform at the K-through-12 level, we're also making sure that every young person has access to a college education.  And we re-channeled money that was going to banks in the student loan program -- tens of billions of dollars that are now going directly to students in the form of Pell grants.  And now we've got a little more work to do to make sure that interest on their student loans don't double on July 1st.

That's why we made investments during the Recovery Act to rebuild our roads and our bridges and our ports, but also to start looking at things like high-speed rail and new broadband lines into rural areas that didn’t have them before -- because the fact is that, historically, America grows not just because a few folks are doing well but because we create a platform where everybody can succeed.  Anybody who's working hard, everybody who's willing to put in the time and the effort and the energy, anybody who's got a new idea, no matter what they look like, no matter where they come from, they can succeed.  And through their success we all succeed.

And we're huge admirers of individual initiative and we insist on individual responsibility, but we also recognize this country succeeds together -- not apart.  And that is going to be probably the biggest theme in this election, because we've got another party on the other side that just has a fundamentally different view about how to make sure that America succeeds.  I think they're patriotic folks.  I think they care about this country.  But I also think that they have a very narrow vision that says, if I'm doing well, then it's up to everybody else to figure their own way. 

And that's certainly not the reason I'm here.  I'm here because my grandfather, after coming back from World War II, was able to study on the GI Bill.  I'm here because my mother, a single mom, was able to get scholarships and grants to help her make her way through school.  Michelle and I are where we are today because, although we came from very modest backgrounds, we got some of the best education in the world.

When I hear people talk about the free enterprise system and entrepreneurship, I try to remind them, you know, all of us made that investment in DARPA that helped to get the Internet started, so there's no Facebook, there's no Microsoft, there's no Google if we hadn’t made this common investment in our future.

And that's what we're going to be debating.  There are going to be a lot of ups and downs and a lot of other issues, but the fundamental issue is going to be, do we believe that we grow together, or do we believe that "you're on your own" is a better model for how we advance not just our interests but the future of our children.

Now, we've still got a lot of work to do.  And the reason I'm running is because there's a lot of unfinished business.  Still too many people out of work -- and there's some things we could be doing right now to put construction workers back to work rebuilding America.  There are things we could be doing right now to invest in science and technology to make sure we maintain a cutting edge. 

We haven't done as much on energy and climate change as we need to do.  And so continuing to push for the kinds of work that a company like McKinstry is doing, making sure that we have energy-efficient buildings and companies and universities and hospitals and schools all across the country -- we could reduce our consumption of energy by about 20 percent just by making these simple investments and we haven't done that yet.  We've made progress, but we've got more work to do.

We've still got to reform an immigration system that is broken, and make sure that young people who are raised in this country with our kids, that they're treated as the Americans that they are, and they're given an opportunity to serve and make of themselves what they will, because that's also part of our tradition.

We're a great country because what binds us together isn't just what we look like or our last names, but we share a creed.  And if you believe in America, then you can be part of it. 

So we're going to have a whole lot of work to do over the next five years, and I'm not going to be able to get there on my own.  I practice what I preach -- in the same way that I don't think a society is successful on its own, well, my campaign is not successful on its own.  Back in 2008, we didn’t succeed because of me; we succeeded because of you, because all of you made a common commitment to a common vision of what America should be. 

And I'm hoping that you're willing to continue with me on this always fascinating journey.  (Laughter.)  Thank you.  (Applause.)

END 
1:11 P.M. PDT

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
May 10, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden at Congressional Spouses Service Project

Naval Observatory
Washington, D.C.

3:17 P.M. EDT


DR. BIDEN:  Hello, everyone, and welcome to our home.  It is wonderful for you to all be here today on such a beautiful day, especially after the rain all this week.

One of the best parts of my role as Second Lady has been visiting with military families all across the country and throughout the world.  I’m always amazed by their courage, their resilience and their strength.

As you all know, the First Lady and I started Joining Forces last year as a way to honor, recognize and support our veterans and military families.  We’ve been so inspired by the many ways Americans all across this country have stepped up to show their support.

Full Circle Home is a wonderful organization started by Vicki Durfree that supports women and military families.  Vicki’s son, Gil, is a Marine.  Working with Vicki is Lisa Miller, an Army mom herself. 

When Vicki’s son was deployed, he asked him mom to help him send a gift to his girlfriend at Christmas.  That was the beginning.  Around the holidays and for Mother’s Day, Full Circle Home arranges for gift boxes to be sent on behalf of service members to their loved ones.

The boxes are filled with pampering products, and, most importantly, a handwritten note from their deployed loved one.  My son, Beau, is a major in the Delaware Army National Guard who was deployed for a year to Iraq, so I know what it feels like for a mom to see that familiar handwriting from a son or a daughter thousands of miles away.  What an incredible surprise for a mom or a spouse to receive. 

More than 4,000 gift boxes have been sent to women across the United States, and even to bases in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past five years. 

Vicki and Lisa, thank you for all you are doing to support our military families.  (Applause.)

Thank you to everyone here for taking the time to help with this service project.  Your time will help thousands of military moms and wives know their loved ones are thinking of them this Mother’s Day.

Now, it is my pleasure to introduce someone who has helped make today possible.  Sloan Gibson, President of the USO, is one of our strongest advocates for our servicemen and women and their families.

Sloan.  (Applause.)


* * * * *


DR. BIDEN:  And now, I want to introduce our First Lady, Michelle Obama, who has been just a wonderful, caring friend, partner and advocate for our U.S. military.

Michelle.  (Applause.)

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, good afternoon, everyone.  I’m not going to talk long because we’re going to get to work, as you all already have been.

I want to start by thanking Jill for opening up this beautiful home for us today.  I want to thank Sloan and the USO for everything they’ve done.  They have just been a phenomenal partner. 

And of course to Vicki and to Lisa, and everything they’re doing with Full Circle Home.  This is just the kind of partnership, just the kind of opportunities that people have in this country to give back and to be creative with the skills that they have, the ideas that they have, what impact that that can have.

But most importantly, I want to just thank all of the congressional spouses, all of the men and women who have taken time out of their busy days to be here.  It was wonderful spending time with you all yesterday at the luncheon.  Great job to the committee.  Well done.  We had a lot of fun, as we always do.  That luncheon is a very special opportunity for us to get together. 

But as I said yesterday, these kind of service opportunities make that luncheon even more special, because it is really the time that we can come together as a group and give back to the community and the country that we all love in ways that you all are doing every day in your own community.

So I am just grateful for you all taking this time out.  It means a lot to both Jill and to I, and of course to all of the military wives and mothers out there who are going to benefit from the gifts that we pack.  I will echo Sloan and Jill in saying -- I am not, have not been a military mom or a wife, but I can only imagine the challenge that this time brings for people with loved ones deployed.  And as Jill said, just getting that note, that familiar handwriting, just making sure that these women know that they’re not forgotten on a day that is so special to all of us. 

So with every package you pack, you’re just brightening up the lives of women who are doing the most, and some making the greatest sacrifice that you can make for this country.  But you all are doing the same thing in your roles as spouses.

We all know that in these roles we are sacrificing as well.  No matter what party we’re in, our husbands and wives are doing the very best for this country, looking out for it each and every day.  And with that, many of us, our families are sacrificing and giving and serving right alongside them as well.  And I know that you all are in a unique position to understand what military -- many military families are going through.  And many of you all are Blue Star families as well, so I know that this makes it even more special.

So I just want to thank you all again.  And with that, we should just get to work.  We’ve got 2,000 packages to get together, so let’s make it happen.  Thank you all.  (Applause.)

END 
3:25 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
May 10, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden at Mother's Day Tea

East Room

2:07 P.M. EDT

DR. BIDEN:  Good afternoon, everyone.  And thank you all for being here.  It’s great to have you at the White House.  I want to thank my great friend and partner, First Lady Michelle Obama, who has done so much for military families.  Thank you, Michelle.  (Applause.)

Many of you know that I’m a proud military mom and grandmother, and I’m always honored to be in the presence of military families.  My son, Beau, is a major in the Delaware National Army Guard, and when he deployed to Iraq it was a tough year for our family.

I know many of you in this room have faced similar challenges.  Grandparents, moms and dads worry through deployments.  Kids miss their parents.  Throughout their service, children have to change schools, make new friends, join new sports teams.  It can really be hard.  I want all of you to know just how much we appreciate everything your families do in serving our country.

That’s why Michelle and I started our Joining Forces initiative to give something back to all of our nation’s military families.  We’re working with Americans all across the country in every sector of society to find new ways to show our support.  And Mother’s Day gives us a special opportunity to say thanks to the mothers who have shaped and supported us. 

Now it is my great pleasure to introduce a military spouse and mom, Jennifer Pilcher.  Jennifer’s husband, Eddie, is a pilot in the Navy who has been assigned to six different duty stations in the past 12 years.  With each reassignment, Jennifer has packed up their home, their two children, and started over in a new community, all while enduring Eddie’s multiple deployments.

On top of all that, Jennifer recently co-founded militaryoneclick.com, a website that connects military families with important resources.  You’ve been busy.  (Laughter.)  Jennifer, thank you for being here today, and thank you for your service.  Happy Mother’s Day.  (Applause.)

* * * * *

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the White House.  It is a beautiful day.  And I hope you all like your Mother’s Day surprises because they worked really hard on them in there.  Very focused, very diligent, very creative.  And if you want to know what the black stuff on their mouths are, they had a few of the cookies -- couldn’t help it.  (Laughter.)

Well, let me start by thanking Jennifer for that very kind introduction and for everything that you and your team do for your family, for your community, and more importantly, for our entire country.

I also have to thank my partner in crime, Jill.  She has been just a amazing friend and a role model for me of what it means to be a strong military mom.  She is terrific and we have to give her a round of applause.  (Applause.)

And it wouldn’t be a Mother’s Day tea if I didn’t thank my own mommy.  Mommy -- there you are, who is here today.  (Applause.)  And it’s a big deal when grandma does anything.  (Laughter.)  So the fact that she’s sitting in that chair is a big testimony to her respect and admiration for all of you.

But I have said it before and I will say it again -- I would not be standing here if it weren’t for her.  My mom is my rock, as many of you all know, and as many of these young people will understand what being a mom is.  She is my rock.  She has taught me to believe in myself, and more importantly, to pick myself up whenever I stumble.

She is always a shoulder to cry on and talk to, and I do that a lot.  And she has always inspired me -- something I think is amazing for my mom -- to push myself to dream even bigger than anything she could ever dream for herself, and she has always done that.  And it’s true today. 

So for me, when I think of Mother’s Day, I think of my own mom.  And this day wouldn’t be the same for me without her here.  So when we were planning this event today to honor our nation’s mothers, we wanted to make sure that all of you could bring along those special people in your own lives, as well.  And we’re thrilled to have a really wonderful group of moms and grandmas and sons and daughters who are here with us today at the White House.

As Jill and Jennifer pointed out, we have got military mothers here.  And some of you are in our country’s uniform, as you can see.  Some of you are married to someone who does wear a uniform.  But all of you are outstanding role models for your children, for your communities and for this country.

For all of you -- and I say this a lot -- service isn’t just something that you do once in a while or during the holidays, it’s how you live your lives.  Whenever there’s something going on in the community -- an opening on the PTA, or they need a leader to drive for the local car pool, or someone asks for volunteers, and then you’ve got that uncomfortable silence in the room -- (laughter) -- we all have been there.  You all are the first ones to speak up and say, how can I help?  No matter how busy you are with your own lives, you’re always filling in those gaps for your families and for the broader community.  So let’s give a big round of applause to all of our military moms here today.  (Applause.)

And another -- here’s to the grandmas here today.  I want to say a special thank you to all of our grandmas here.  Obviously, you all are mothers too, or else you wouldn’t be grandmothers.  (Laughter.)  That would be one of those obvious points that Malia would say, duh.  (Laughter.)  So, Sarah, my speechwriter -- duh.  (Laughter.)  And I can't begin to imagine what it must feel like to have your baby be far away from home and in harm’s way.

But your sons and daughters, their choice to serve this country is really a reflection of your love.  It is.  It’s a reflection of your strength and all the good decisions that you made in raising them.  That we know.  And I know that when a mom or dad is deployed, it often means that all of you grandparents, you're stepping up to help take care of your grandchildren -- you’re the first phone call when mom or dad gets tied up at work, and you’re often spending long weekends away from your own homes, filling in wherever needed.  I know that's the case in our household.

But no matter what, you all are always, always there.  And that is not just important for us as parents, but for the connection that you make with the next generation.  It is so powerful.  For that, this whole country is grateful.  And that also means that you all are -- have earned the right to spoil your grandchildren as much as you want, which happens in my house.  (Laughter.)  What happens to the grandmothers, you know?  You turn into just pieces of mush.  (Laughter.)

Yes, I tell my children to eat my vegetables, and Grandma is like, why.  (Laughter.)  Why can't they have whatever they want?  (Laughter.)  And I’m like, these were the rules you -- these were your rules.  (Laughter.)  Don't you remember?  No, no, I don't remember ever making you eat vegetables.  Ever.  (Laughter.)  How many people have grandmas like that?  (Laughter.)  So, to all the grandmas, thank you.  We love you.  (Applause.)

And to all of our kids -- (applause) -- our kids.  All of this, this day, all we do is for you.  All of this, it’s for you.  Not for us.  We don't care.  We don't matter.  It’s for you.  (Laughter.)  And you’re so cute, and you look so good.  (Laughter.) 

I want you all to know just how special you all are -- really -- each and every one of you.  And for all the kids out there, the military kids out there who will see this, you all are so special.  And I know it isn’t easy when mom or dad is away for so long.  I know it’s tough to have to be so grown up sometimes and pick up and move across the country and try to make new friends again, and again, and again.  I can't imagine how tough that must be.

But I want you all to know that what you do every day, all the good things you do, the way you handle your business -- as I tell my kids -- picking up extra chores when mom or dad is gone; taking care of your brothers and your sisters -- because we know you love them even if you act like you don't.  (Laughter.)  We know this.  Staying on top of your schoolwork, just being good people -- all of that makes you all heroes for this country too. 

So today, we are here to celebrate all of you.  Yay for our children.  (Applause.)  Keep up the good work.  And no matter what Grandma says, eat your vegetables.  (Laughter.)  Eat your vegetables.

So tomorrow is Military Spouse Appreciation Day.  May is National Military Appreciation Month, and we’re just a couple of days away from Mother’s Day.  So now is really the perfect time to thank all of you for your service to this country.  Every single day, you all are an inspiration to Jill and to me.  Whenever we think we’re tired, we just remember your stories and it gets us up.  You all are an inspiration to our husbands, more importantly, and you all are an inspiration to the entire country.  And today I think you deserve to celebrate. 

And with that, I think Jill and I are going to come down there and we’re going to take some pictures with all of you.  We’re going to go table to table and say hello to every one of you.  You all, happy Mother’s Day.  Enjoy this day and all those to come.

Thank you.

END
2:23 P.M. EDT