Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Kenny of Ireland after Bilateral Meeting

Oval Office

11:09 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, it is my great pleasure to welcome once again Taoiseach, Mr. Kenny, who has done, I think, extraordinary work during a very difficult time.  Over the last several years, we've been able to strike up a friendship.  And you'll notice that even though technically it is not St. Patrick's Day, we like to prolong the party around here.  Technically, most of the Americans who celebrate St. Patrick's Day aren’t Irish anyway -- (laughter) -- so we shouldn’t go on technicalities.

I want to thank the Taoiseach, his lovely wife, and all of the people of Ireland for the extraordinary hospitality they showed Michelle and I when we had the chance to travel there recently.  It was a magical day.  It was too short, so I provided assurances that we will be returning.  But the warmth and the goodwill that was expressed towards us I think was really representative of the deep bonds that exist between the United States and Ireland -- bonds that are almost unique among two countries around the world.  And the impact, obviously, that Ireland and Irish American -- that Irish culture has had on the United States is almost unparalleled.

We have had a terrific discussion about a wide range of issues.  Obviously for both our countries, one of the biggest priorities is getting the economy moving in the right direction and putting our people back to work.  And the Taoiseach described to me the steps that they've taken to try to stabilize the banking system there, to get control of their budget, and to be in position to grow in the future. 

And it is important that both the people of Ireland and the American people understand the extraordinary benefits of trade, commerce, and investment between our two countries.  We are, obviously, an extraordinary contributor to investment in Ireland, and that's something of great importance to the people of Ireland.  Conversely, Irish businesses invest and employ huge numbers of Americans as well. 

And so we are continuing to identify and describe additional areas where we can strengthen those strong economic bonds.  And I expressed to the Taoiseach my confidence in not only his government's ability to get Ireland moving again, but also we consulted on the broader issue of how Europe can begin to grow again, which obviously has an impact on our economy.

I also had an opportunity to thank him for the continued exemplary efforts by the men and women in uniform in Ireland who contribute to peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts all around the world, from Kosovo to Lebanon.  As I've said before, Ireland punches above its weight internationally, and has a long history rooted in its own experience of making sure that not only is peace a priority, but also that the human needs on issues like hunger are addressed.  And even in the midst of a relatively austere time, Ireland has continued to step up internationally, and we greatly appreciate that.

I'm pleased to see that progress continues to be made with respect to the agreement in Northern Ireland.  We discussed how the United States wants to continue to be supportive on that issue as well.

So, once again, Taoiseach, welcome.  We are always pleased to see you here.  And the expressions of affection that I experienced when I was in Ireland I'm sure you are experiencing in return while you are here, because the American people have just an extraordinary affinity and fondness for the Irish people. And we are looking forward to you having a very productive visit, and we look forward to going over to Capitol Hill where even when it's not St. Patrick's Day, everybody claims to have a little bit of Irish roots.

Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER KENNY:  Could I say, first of all, I want to thank the President and the First Lady for the accommodation that's been given.  It's always good to have a place to stay in Washington.  And it's a distinct honor to be allowed to stay at Blair House, but also to come here to the Oval Office and have this conversation this morning. 

I'd just like to say that I've given the President a rundown on the decisions taken by my government in the last 12 months to stabilize our public finances and to put our own house in order, but also to play a part, clearly, in the European Union is so important in a global sense.  And from that point of view, I gave the President a rundown on the changes in the structure of banks, the decisions taken by government in relation to the public sector numbers, the forcing down of costs and therefore the increase in competitiveness, and to report to him signs of confidence returning to the Irish economy.  But we still have a very long way to go.  Otherwise we've had a good, solid start but clearly there are challenges ahead.

I also reported to the President that the conversation around the table of Europe in the last 10 months has shifted from one of being just austerity to being one of good budgetary discipline, but also where clearly the agenda for growth and jobs will now be central to every European Council meeting.

I gave the President an outline of my views in respect of the fiscal compact treaty, and how we expect the Irish people, in their pragmatism and understanding of what the future holds, to vote strongly in favor of the treaty, and that this represents a real insurance policy both for the country and for the next generation of children -- but also, not to allow any future government to run riot with the people's money as has happened in the past. 

We discussed the question of the development of the European economies, and how other countries are making efforts aligned with our own to have that as a central issue for the time ahead. We also discussed the trading links between the U.S. and Ireland. I pointed out to the President my interaction with the American Chamber of Commerce and the chief executives of multinationals in Ireland.  We discussed the question of the possibility of semesters, either way, for young people involved in innovation and research and education, which is so important in the context of what multinational companies are actually looking for.

As well as that, we discussed the issue of Syria, and I gave the President a rundown on the last discussions at the European Council meeting.  We also discussed the question of Iran and what the U.S. has said very clearly about this in the short time window that there is in that regard.

We referred to the possibility of an opportunity to travel again to Ireland, and the President has confirmed that in due course.  Obviously, he's got a little matter to attend to here in America between this and that.  But I just wanted to say to you that it's a reestablishment, if you like, and a redefining of the absolutely unique relationship that there is between Ireland and the United States. 

I pointed out to President Obama since my visit here to Chicago, his home city, the extraordinary outpouring of enthusiasm and exuberance in the streets of Chicago on Saturday, and my visit to Notre Dame in South Bend, and the opportunities that we had in New York to meet with Irish American business, with American investment business, the Ireland Investment Day at the stock exchange. 

And here in Washington for the past two days has been simply outstanding.  And it confirms my belief that the reputation of our country has been restored internationally, and that the unique relationship that we've always had with the United States for so many reasons is exceptionally strong.  And I told the President of the great work being done by Ambassador Rooney, but also that Ireland respects America for what it does, both in our own context, but also to keep the world a safer place for the hundreds of millions of people who look for real leadership in this regard.

I thank President Obama and his government and his First Lady for all they do for so many people around the world.  And as I say, it's a privilege to be here in the Oval Office to represent our country and have this opportunity -- on St. Patrick's Week.  (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you, everybody.

END
11:19 A.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady at a Campaign Event

Locanda Verde
New York, New York

8:53 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Wow!  (Applause.)  Thank you all so much.  (Applause.)  All right!  Well, you guys sound pretty fired up, so I think I can leave.  We can have some drinks and call it a night.  (Laughter.)

I am just so honored and thrilled to be here tonight.  This event means so much because there's so many people who are so near and dear to me who have helped put this together.  And I have to start by thanking our phenomenal host -- a dynamic duo in their own right:  Bob and Grace.  Thank you all.  (Applause.)  Their support and friendship and love and sort of steadfast belief have meant the world to both Barack and to me.  It is important to have people like them in your life when you're doing tough stuff.  So we appreciate it dearly.  And one day, I'll be able to come here, walk through the lobby -- (laughter) -- sit down and have a drink.  (Laughter.)  But not yet.  (Laughter.)  So let's give them another round of applause.  They are amazing.  (Applause.)

And I also want to thank all of you -- so many people who have been with us from the very beginning, so many people that I can blame for getting us in this mess.  (Laughter.)  There are a lot of people I can point to.  It's like, "This was your idea!"  (Laughter.)  You, in the back.  (Laughter.)  But I want to thank you all for taking the time to come here and to support us.  You have been -- you're here not just because it's a great hotel and because you love Bob and Grace.  You're here because you know that we truly stand at a fundamental crossroads for our country right now.  And you're here because you know that in less than a year from now, we are going to make a choice that will impact our lives for decades to come.  And I also know that you’re here because you know that choice won’t just affect all of us, which it will, but it is going to affect our children, our grandchildren, and more importantly, the world we leave behind for them.

And that is really why I am in this.  I must say, that is why I am going to be out there working as hard as I can for as long as I can to make sure this President has another four years.  (Applause.)

You see, one of the greatest gifts I have as First Lady is I get to travel all across this country and I get to meet with people from all different backgrounds, and I always say that I wish every American had that opportunity to just sit down and talk to people.  I get to do that.  I get to hear what’s going on in their daily lives.  And every day, I hear about the struggles and the challenges they're facing -- the bills they’re trying to pay, the businesses they’re trying to keep afloat.  I hear about how people are doing everything they can -- they're taking that extra shift; they're working that extra job; they are saving and sacrificing, oftentimes never spending a dime on themselves because they desperately want something better for their kids.

But make no mistake about it, these struggles are not new.  For decades now, middle-class people have been squeezed from all sides.  While the cost of things like gas and groceries, tuition have continued to rise, people’s paychecks just haven’t kept up.  So when this economic crisis hit, for far too many families the bottom just completely fell out.

Now, I have to say, over the past three years, with this President, we have worked very hard to pull ourselves out of this mess.  And we have made some important progress.  Now, you may remember -- yes.  (Applause.) 

Let me just remind you of some things.  See, when my husband took office, we were losing an average -– on average 750,000 jobs a month –- a month.  But we recently learned that we have now had 24 straight months of private sector job growth –- 24 straight months.  And just to do the math, that would be two years -- two years with a total of more than 3.9 million jobs. 

So I am very proud of everything my husband has done to get our economy moving in the right direction.  And I know you all are, too.  I know that we are all proud of everything he has done to get this country back on track.  But we also know we still have a long way to go.  We still have a long way to go in rebuilding our economy based on a vision that we all share -– the belief, as Barack says, that hard work should pay off; that responsibility should be rewarded; and that everyone should get a fair shot, do their fair share, and play by the same rules. 

See, these are the values that are at the foundation of an economy that’s built to last.  They are basic American values.  They’re the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself.  Most of you know my story.  My father was a blue-collar city worker at the city water plant, and my family lived in a little-bitty apartment on the South Side of Chicago.  And neither of my parents had the opportunity to go to college, but let me tell you what they did do.  They worked hard for us, and they saved, and poured every ounce of themselves into us because they wanted so desperately for my brother and I to have things they never could have dreamed of. 

And what we have to understand is that, more than anything else, that is what’s at stake.  That’s what we’re working for -- the fundamental promise that no matter who you are or how you started out, if you work hard, you can build a decent life for yourself and, more importantly, an even better life for your kids.

And on just about every single issue -– from health care to education to the economy -– that is the choice we face in this election.  For example, when you hear the President talking about tax cuts for middle-class folks, or unemployment insurance for folks out of work, see, what that is about –- it’s about whether people can heat their homes.  It’s about whether people can put gas in their car so that they can even look for a job.  It’s about whether folks can send their kids to college and maybe retire with a little dignity and security.  And it’s about whether people will have more money in their pockets, which means more money in the economy, which means more jobs.  But that’s what’s at stake.  That’s what this is all about.

And when it comes to jobs, let’s just think back to when all those folks in Washington were talking and telling Barack to let the auto industry go under.  Remember that?   With more than a million jobs on the line -- remember that?  But Barack had the backs of American workers.  He put his faith in the American people.  So today the auto industry is back on its feet, and more importantly, people are back working, able to provide for their families because of that decision.  But that’s what’s at stake.  That’s the choice we face.

And let’s think for a minute about what this administration has done to stand up for the American consumer.  I’m talking about families getting hit with those hidden credit card fees.  I’m talking about our seniors losing their homes, our students drowning in debt.

That’s why my husband created a new consumer watchdog with one simple mission, and that is to protect folks from exactly those types of abuses.  Because when folks have worked and have saved and have followed the rules, then Barack believes you shouldn’t lose it all to someone looking to make an easy buck.  That’s not fair.  It’s not right.  And believe me, your President is working to do something about this.

And what about all that we’ve all done together for just small businesses –- these are the companies that create nearly two-thirds of all jobs in this economy.  That’s two-thirds.  I’m talking about the mother who opens up that drycleaners to help support her kids -– that’s who we’re talking about.  We’re talking about the family that owns that neighborhood diner –- have had it in their family for generations.  Or the veteran who launches a startup and pursues the American Dream that he fought so hard for.  Those are the folks we’re talking about. 

See, those are the folks who work themselves to the bone during the day, then head home and pore over the books late into the night, determined to make the numbers add up, because, see, for these people, these tax cuts that your President has worked for mean the difference between these people hiring new employees or handing out pink slips.  It will be the difference between them keeping their doors open or closing up shop for good.  But that is the choice we face.

And how about the very first bill my husband signed into law -- the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to have women get equal pay for equal work.  (Applause.)  And let me tell you why he did this.  He did this because he knows what it means when women are treated unfairly in the workplace.  He watched his own grandmother -- a woman with a high school education -- watched her work her way up to become the vice president at a little, bitty community bank.  And she worked hard, and she was good at what she did, but like so many women, she hit that glass ceiling and watched men no more qualified than she was -- men she had actually trained -- climb up the corporate ladder ahead of her. 

So believe me, your President, for him these issues are not abstract.  This is not a hypothetical.  He signed this bill because he knows that closing that pay gap can mean the difference between women losing $50, $100, $500 from every paycheck, or having that money in their pockets to buy gas and groceries and put clothes on the backs of their kids.  (Applause.)

He did it because he knows that when nearly two-thirds of women are breadwinners or co-breadwinners, he knows that women's success in this economy is the key to family success in this economy.  And he did it because, as he put it, we believe that here in America, there are no second-class citizens in our workplace.  (Applause.)  But that’s what's at stake.  That’s what we're working for.  We can't lose sight of that.

Let's talk for just a minute about health care. 

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  Because two years ago, we made history together -- all of us worked for this -- by finally passing health reform. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Yes.

MRS. OBAMA:  But now, there are folks talking about repealing that reform.  So today, we must ask ourselves, are we going to stand by and let that happen?  I mean, really. 

Since we passed this law, millions of our senior citizens have saved, on average, more than $600 a year on their prescription drugs.  So are we going to take that savings away from our grandparents?  Or will we make sure that our parents and grandparents can afford to stay healthy into their golden years?

Are we going back to the days when insurance companies could deny our children coverage -- our children coverage -- for preexisting conditions?  Things like cancer, diabetes, even asthma?  Or will we stand up and say that in this country, no one should have to choose between going bankrupt or watching their child suffer because they can't afford a doctor.  (Applause.)  And when our children grow up and they graduate from school, we all know how hard it is for them to find a job, let alone a job with insurance.  So that’s why as part of this reform, kids can now stay on their parents insurance until they're 26 years old.  Can I get an amen?  (Applause.) 

And today, that is how 2.5 million of our young people are getting their coverage today.  So are we going to take that coverage away from our children? 

AUDIENCE:  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  Or will we say that we don’t want our sons and our daughters growing up without health care when they're just starting out, trying to build a life of their own, careers and a family?  But that’s the choice we face.

And think for a minute about what's been done on education.  Think about all those investments to raise standards, and reform our public schools.  I mean, this is about improving the circumstances of millions of our children -- because they're all ours.  Children we know today are sitting in crumbling classrooms, children we know have so much promise if we just gave them a chance.

And just think about how my husband has been fighting for the DREAM Act, so that -- (applause) -- talented, hardworking young people who were brought to this country through no fault of their own can have a chance to earn their citizenship.  These are responsible young people, men and women who want to go to college.  (Applause.)  They want to defend our country, and they want to contribute to our economy.  And it is time that we gave them that chance.  It's time. 

And think about how we tripled investments in job training, community colleges.  This is about thousands of hardworking folks who are determined to get the education for the better wages.  They're doing everything we could ask.  They're doing it all -- they're working full-time, they're raising their kids, yet they're still making it to class in the evening, studying late into the hour -- into the night because they desperately want to better themselves, and better their families. 

Make no mistake about it -- these kind of investments in education, in our workers will determine nothing less than the future of our economy.  It will determine whether we're prepared to make the discoveries and to build the industries that will allow us to compete with any country anywhere in the world.  But that’s what's at stake.

And let us not forget about what it meant when my husband appointed those two magnificent Supreme Court justices. 

And for the first time in history, our daughters and our sons watched three women take their seat on our nation’s highest court.  (Applause.)  And let us not forget what their decisions -- the impact those decisions will have on our lives for decades to come -– on our privacy and security, on whether we can speak freely, worship openly, and, yes, love whomever we choose.  (Applause.)  But that’s what’s at stake.  That's the choice that we face.  (Applause.) 

And finally, let us not forget all this administration has done to keep our country safe and restore our standing in the world.  As Bob and Grace had mentioned, thanks to our brave men and women in uniform, we finally brought to justice the man behind the 9/11 attacks and so many other horrific acts.  (Applause.)   

As promised, my husband ended the war in Iraq, brought our troops home for the holidays.  (Applause.)  And more importantly, we are working to make sure that our troops, veterans, families get the education, the employment, the benefits they have earned.  And finally, because my husband ended "don’t ask, don’t tell," our troops will never have to get -- have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love.  (Applause.)  That's what’s at stake.  That's what's at stake.

Now, I could go on.  But you all are standing up -- I see Liz has got her shoes off.  (Laughter.)  So I know that -- baby's got to get to sleep.  (Laughter.)  We could be here all night talking about our President.  (Applause.)  But please, though, make no mistake about it, whether it’s health care or the economy, whether it’s education or foreign policy, the choice we make will determine nothing less than who we are as a country.  But more importantly, it will determine who we want to be.  See, and that's the question I ask everyone to think about.  Who do we want to be?  Who are we? 

Will we be the country where opportunity is limited to just the few at the top?  I mean, come on now, who are we?  Or will we be a place where if you work hard, you can get ahead, no matter who you are or where you started out?  Who are we?  Who do we want to be?  Will we tell folks who have done everything right but are struggling just a little bit to get by, are we going to tell those folks, “tough luck, you’re on your own”?  Is that who we are?

AUDIENCE:  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  Or will we honor that fundamental American belief that this country is strongest when we’re all better off?  Who are we?  Will we continue all the change that we’ve begun and the progress we’ve made?  Or are we going to allow everything to just slip away?  What are we going to do?  Because now is the time to figure it out.  Those are the choices.  That's what's at stake.  And I'm not exaggerating.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  No, you're not!

MRS. OBAMA:  But believe me, Barack, your President, knows this all too well.  He understands these issues because he’s lived them.  He was raised by a single mother, watched her struggle to pay the bills.  And when she couldn't handle it, who stepped up?  His grandmother, waking up before dawn to catch that bus to that job in the bank.  And even though she was passed over for all those promotions, she never complained.  How many people do we have like that in our lives?  They never complain.  She just kept showing up, just kept doing her best.

So believe me, Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.  He knows what it means when someone doesn’t have the chance to fulfill their potential.  Those are the experiences that have made him the man –- but more importantly, the President -- he is today.  And we are blessed to have him.  (Applause.)      

And as I share with everyone that I talk to, that is what I hear in his voice late at night.  I share this with everyone.  Every single night he comes home after a long day of traveling or at the Oval Office, and he tells me about all the people he’s met.  Because when it comes to people he's met, he doesn’t  forget a name.  Not a name.  That’s what I see in those quiet moments after the girls have gone to bed, and he’s poring over the letters that people have sent him.  The letter from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won’t cover her care.  The letter from the father still struggling to pay his family’s bills.  The letters from way too many young people, far too many young people with so much promise and so little opportunity. 

And I hear the passion and the determination in his voice.  He says, "Michelle, you won’t believe what people are going through.”  He says, “This is not right and we've got to fix it.  That is where Barack gets his passion.

You see, when it comes to the people he meets, Barack has a memory like a steel trap.  He might not remember your name, but if he’s had a few minutes and a decent conversation with you, he will never forget your story.  It becomes imprinted on his heart.  And that’s what he carries with him every single day -– that collection of struggles, hopes and dreams.  That is where Barack gets his passion.  That’s where Barack gets his toughness and his fight.  That is where he gets his toughness and his fight.  And even in the hardest times, Barack Obama never loses sight of the end game.  Never.  He never gets distracted by all the chatter and the noise.  He just keeps moving forward -- just like his grandmother -- just keeps moving forward.  See, because your President has a vision -- a vision for this country that we all share.

See, the President has to have a vision -- because when times are tough, that's all you have is what's here.  But I have said this before, and I will say it again:  He cannot do this alone.  That was never the promise.  He cannot do this alone.  (Applause.)  He needs you standing with him every minute of the day.  He needs you making those phone calls.  He needs you registering those voters.  He needs you fired up, ready to go.  He needs you to take those “I’m In” cards -- we've been sending them around -- sign them, sign up your friends, your neighbors.

This isn’t one of those things where it's enough that you just did.  You got to get 50 people good.  (Applause.)  It's important to convince them, have them understand what's at stake.  Because not everybody is paying attention.  Not everybody understands the full picture.  That's where you all come in.  Convince them to invest just a little part of themselves each week to this campaign. 

Because we all know that this isn’t about just one extraordinary man -- although I think my husband is awesome.  (Laughter.)  This has always been about us -- about all of us working together for the values we believe in and the country we want to be.

And I’m not going to joke with any of you, this journey is going to be long, it is going to be hard, and there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way.  But the truth i, that is how change always happens in this country.  The reality is, is that real change is slow, never happens all at once.

But if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, if we keep working for the values that we know are true, then we always get there.  We always do.  We have never moved backwards.  Never.  Maybe not in our lifetimes, but maybe in our children’s lifetimes, maybe in our grandchildren’s lifetimes.  Because in the end, that’s what this is all about. 

This isn’t about us.  In the end, we are fighting these battles not for ourselves, but like so many people before us who fought for us, we are fighting them for our sons and our daughters, for our grandsons and for our granddaughters.  We are fighting for the world we want to leave for them.  That's what this is about. 

And I am in this fight not just as a mother who wants to leave a legacy for my children.  I’m in this as a citizen who knows what we can do together to change this country for the better.  Because the truth is, no matter what happens, my girls are going to be okay.  My girls are blessed.  And I tell them that every single day -- "Girl, you are blessed.  You got to get up."  (Laughter.)  "You better straighten up that face.  Better stop pouting."  (Laughter.)

But I am sure that’s true for so many of our children -- for the children that we all know in our lives.   But I think the last few years have shown us the truth of what Barack has always said:  If any child in this country struggles, then it matters to us because that child is ours.  Those are all our children.  If any family in this country faces challenges, then we cannot be fully content with our own family’s good fortune because that’s not who we are.  In the end, we cannot separate our own story from the broader American story.  Like it or not, we’re in this together.  In this country, we rise and we fall together.  (Applause.) 

And that is a good thing.  We know that if we make the right priorities and make the right choices, then we can ensure that everyone -- everyone in this country gets a fair shake and a chance to get ahead.  That’s what’s at stake.

So it’s time for us to get moving.  It is time for us to be so fired up about this.  We cannot afford not to take this as seriously as possible because I didn’t even go down the whole list of stuff -– (applause) –- and there’s a lot of stuff I can say.  But there’s a lot of stuff that’s on the line.  So we’re going to need you every step of the way.  We’re going to need you as focused as you were three years ago. 

This President has done what he said he was going to do and he has done what he said with a level of poise and grace.  And there is a lot left to do.  But the only way he is going to get there is with you all in it every step of the way.

So, my final question to you all:  Are you in?  Are you in?  No, no are you really in?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  No, no, it’s got to be real deep in.  I mean rolling-up-your-sleeves in.  Getting-on-the-phone in.  Calling- people-who-might-be-a-little-on-the-fence in and shaking them.  Because I’m telling you, I am in.  I am in.  I’m going to be working so hard.  I’m going to be traveling all over this country, talking to people, reminding them what’s at stake.  I know we can do this.  We have to.  We have to. 

Thank you all so much for your support.  God bless you all.

END                
9:21 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the President at Campaign Event

Private Residence
Atlanta, Georgia

9:14 P.M. EDT
 
THE PRESIDENT:  So usually I have better accommodations for our events.  (Laughter.)  But we decided to slum it here today.  Everybody, have a seat.  Everybody, have a seat.
 
It is wonderful to see all of you.  I've got a bunch of good friends here.  It is a nice, intimate setting, which means that I'm going to have time to have a conversation instead of giving a long speech.  And since I've been giving long speeches all day, I'm -- and most of you have heard it before -- I'm glad that it's going to be more of a dialogue. 
 
First of all, I just want to thank Tyler for this event.  (Applause.)  I was saying to him, when we were over at his studio, there is something about America, with all the struggles we've been going through and all the changes that have taken place in our history, for him to come from where he is and be who he is; for me to come from where I am and have this extraordinary privilege.  It says something special about this place.  And for Tyler to continue to be so humble and thoughtful and generous is just a -- is a testimony to him and his family.  And so we are just so grateful to him and just feel blessed to see his success.  So thank you so much, Tyler.  Appreciate it.  (Applause.)
 
We've got a couple of elected officials who are doing outstanding work.  First of all, your own Mayor, who is blowing up, as they say.  (Laughter.)  He is a star, and people all across the country are starting to get a sense of how astute he is and how effective he is in leading this city -- Mr. Kasim Reed is in the house.  (Applause.)
 
Our host when we get to Charlotte, North Carolina -- Mayor Anthony Foxx is here.  (Applause.)
 
And then, there is my good friend, Oprah, who very early on, when I was still running, just decided that she would support this guy with a name that nobody could pronounce.  And just like books and skin cream -- (laughter) -- when Oprah decides she likes you, then other people like you, too.  (Laughter.)  And she has continued to be just -- not just a friend, but somebody who Michelle and I seek out in thinking about not just the day to day issues of the day but trying to keep our focus on the big picture.  And what she's done for so many people, not just in America but around the world, is extraordinary.  So I just want to say thank you to Oprah.  (Applause.)
 
We've had a good day.  I was back home in Chicago; came down to Atlanta.  It's warm every place.  It gets you a little nervous about what's happening to global temperatures, but when it's 75 degrees in Chicago in the beginning of March, you start thinking --
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Something is wrong.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  On the other hand, really have enjoyed the nice weather.  (Laughter.)
 
And we're starting to gear up, starting to get into -- back into that campaign mode.  And it makes you reflect on the journey we've traveled so far over the last three years.  As some of you may have seen, we released a video yesterday.  If you haven't seen it, it's worth catching.  (Applause.)  Because what it reminds us of is where we were -- because you can't understand where we are unless you have a good sense of where we've been.
 
And this time -- around this time four years ago -- or three years ago, we were losing 800,000 jobs a month.  The banking system had completely locked up.  The auto industry was on the verge of collapse.  The world economy was hemorrhaging.  And three years later, we've now created close to 4 million jobs.  The banking system is healthy again.  Credit is flowing; small businesses are starting to get back on their feet.  Manufacturing is as strong as it's been in a couple of decades in terms of job growth.  We still have enormous challenges, but we've made extraordinary progress.
 
Now, what I always remind people of is, I ran for President not just to get back to where we were before the crisis; I ran  because the status quo pre-crisis wasn't good enough.  But it was for too many people a betrayal of the American Dream -- the idea that if you work hard, you can make it, regardless of what you look like, where you come from, what your name is; that as a consequence of hard work you could support a family, buy a home, send your kids to college, retire with dignity and respect.  That core American Dream had been fraying for too many people. 
 
And so even as these last three years we have been dealing with crises, and getting the auto industry back on its feet, and making sure the banking system was sounder, and dealing with two wars, and going after al Qaeda, and trying to clean up after these extraordinary challenges, I've still tried to stay focused on the fact that the promises we made in the campaign had to do with building an economy that sustained itself and that was built on a solid foundation -- not phony financial profits or debt, but was built on something more sound and more lasting, and that we would reopen opportunity for everybody, and give people more security as they pursue their dreams.
 
And that's what we've done.  The health care bill will give 30 million people health care for the first time.  But it also means that everybody who already has health care, the insurance companies can't drop you just because you get sick or you've got a pre-existing condition or -- young people, two and a half million people right now have health care that didn't have it before because they can stay on their parent's plan. 
 
The changes we're making in education -- 46 states have initiated reforms across the country that are reemphasizing training teachers, and not just teaching to the test but allowing creativity and passion in the classroom; holding folks accountable, saying we're going to get rid of teachers who aren't doing a good job, but also rewarding teachers who are doing a great job and lifting them up.
 
Across the country, we are seeing a renaissance of advanced manufacturing, so we're not just a country that's known for buying stuff and consuming stuff, but we're starting to build and sell and export things that are made in America. 
 
We want to rebuild our infrastructure, and we began to do that through the Recovery Act, so that once again we've got the best airports and the best roads and the best bridges and the best internet service, accessing rural communities and inner cities so that everybody can tap into this new 21st century economy.
 
We've tried to make sure that fairness is not just something we give lip service to, but that we actually deliver on.  And so whether it's reinvigorating the Justice Department's Office of Civil Rights or ending "don't ask, don't tell," we've tried to make sure that we mean what we say when we say that this is a country where everybody is equal before the law. 
 
Internationally, we've restored respect for America.  We've ended one war.  We're transitioning out of another one.  We went after the people who actually attacked us on 9/11, and al Qaeda is weaker than it's been in years.  And Osama bin Laden is not around.
 
We strengthened our alliances, the respect for the United States, the restoration of our moral standing by banning torture and upholding rule of law.  That makes all kinds of differences for people as they travel overseas and they try to do business overseas.
 
So here's the thing, though -- this is not a three-year project, this is an eight-year project.  So I need you one more time.  (Applause.)  And we're confident we can get there, but we're going to need your help.  So I've said this -- I was saying this at the speech that I gave at Tyler's studio:  I know I'm a little grayer now -- (laughter) -- and it's not as trendy to be an Obama supporter, because it's not as fresh; those posters are kind of rolled up in some closet somewhere.  (Laughter.)  But my determination -- my determination is unwavering.  My passion to bring about change is undiminished.  The need is still great.  The American people are still relying on us. 
 
And so I hope that you are game to work just as hard, if not harder, in the coming months to make sure we finish what we began.  I'll be counting on you, and more importantly, the American people are counting on you.
 
All right.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)
 
END               
9:26 P.M. EDT
 

Remarks by the First Lady at a Campaign Event

Walker Art Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota

5:50 P.M. CDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, you guys are just happy because it’s warm.  (Laughter.)  Thank you so much.  I can’t tell you what a pleasure and an honor it is to be here with all of you.

It is warm in here.  (Laughter.)  So if anybody needs to sit down and take a rest -- because I know sometimes -- please, feel free.  I know you guys aren’t used to this kind of weather at this time of year.  (Laughter.)

But I am just thrilled to be here.  And I want to start by thanking Kelly for that very powerful introduction.  Absolutely.  (Applause.)  And for sharing her story.  And I got to meet Elliott.  Elliott is handsome.  (Laughter.)  And he has this wonderful, increasingly deep voice.  So they are blessed.  And it is because of stories like these that my husband worked so hard to get health reform passed.  And it’s because of people like Kelly and like all of you that we got it done.  (Applause.)  So congratulations to all of you.

I also want to recognize a few people -- Governor Dayton, who was here.  I know he’s probably not here, but he was here.  He was there to greet me at the airport.  I want to thank him and Senator Klobuchar.  Amy was here.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Yeah, Amy!

MRS. OBAMA:  Amy!  (Applause.)  Senator Franken and his
wife are here.  Yes!  (Applause.)  And one of our favorite mayors, Mayor Rybak and his family are here.  (Applause.)  As well as Mayor Coleman and his family.  We’re so delighted to have you all here.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you, all, for your leadership.  Thank you for your service.  Thank you for taking the time to be here today.

And I also want to give a special shout-out to some of our Host Committee people -- Sam Hines, Stacy, Amy, Andy, you guys and the rest of the Host Committee.  Yes!  (Applause.)  Not only did you create a successful event but you got folks fired up, even before I got here.  So this is great. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Ready to go!

MRS. OBAMA:  (Laughter.)  Fired up and ready to go.

And finally, I want to thank you all of you.  Truly, thank you for your support.  Thank you for being with us this evening.  And I know that there is a reason why you all are here.  And it’s not just because it’s a nice day, you’re here because you know that we stand at a fundamental crossroads for our country.
You know that in less than a year from now, we are going to make a choice that will impact our lives for decades to come.

And I know you’re here because you know that choice won’t just affect all of us, but it’s going to affect our children, it’s going to affect our grandchildren, and it’s going to affect the world that we leave for them long after we’re gone.

And believe me, that is why I am here this evening.  That’s why I’m going to be out on the campaign trail really hard.  (Applause.)

One of the greatest things about being First Lady is that I have had the privilege of traveling across this great country, and our country is great.  Meeting folks from all different backgrounds and hearing what’s going on in their daily lives.  And every day, I hear about how people are struggling to keep it together -- how they’re paying their bills, trying to keep their businesses afloat.  I hear about how people are doing everything in their power to keep it together, taking that extra shift, working that extra job.  How people are saving and sacrificing, many never spending a dime on themselves because they desperately want something better for their kids.

And make no mistake about it, these struggles are not new.  For decades now, middle-class folks have been squeezed from all sides.  The cost of things like gas, groceries, tuition have continued to go up, but people’s paychecks haven’t kept pace.  So when the economic crisis hit, for far too many families, the bottom completely fell out.

Now, over the past three years, your President has worked very hard to dig ourselves out of this mess.  (Applause.)  And we have made some excellent progress -- excellent.  You may remember that when my husband took office, we were losing on average more than 750,000 jobs a month.  That’s when he came into office.  Bur recently, we learned that we’ve now had 24 straight months of private sector job growth.  (Applause.)  Just to do the math, two years.  (Applause.)  Two straight years we have been adding private sector jobs for a total of more than 3.9 million jobs.  (Applause.)

So let me tell you, I am proud of everything my husband has done to get our economy moving, and I know you all are, too.  I know that.  We are all proud of everything he’s done to get this economy back on track.  But we also know that we still have a long way to go.  We still have a long way to rebuild our country on an economy that is built to last -- a vision that we all share.  The belief that, as my husband says, and as Kelly mentioned, that hard work should pay off; that responsibility should be rewarded; and that everyone in this country should get a fair shot, they should do their fair share, but more importantly, they should play by the same rules. 

Those values are the foundation for an economy built to last, and they are basic American values.  They are the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself.  You all know my story by now.  My father was a blue-collar worker -- city water plant.  My family lived in a little bitty apartment on the South Side of Chicago.  Neither of my parents went to college, but let me tell you what they did do.  They worked for us.  They saved for us.  They sacrificed everything so that my brother and I could have things they only imagined.

And more than anything else, that’s what’s at stake.  That’s what we’re working for.  (Applause.)  That fundamental promise that no matter who you are or how you started out, that if you work hard, you can build a decent life for yourself and yes, an even better life for your kids.

And let me tell you, on just about every single issue -– from health care to education to the economy -– that is the choice that we face in this election.

For example, when we talk about tax cuts for middle-class families, or you hear the President talking about unemployment insurance for folks out of work, that’s about whether people can heat their homes.  That’s what those conversations are about.  It’s about whether people can put gas in their car so that they can even look for a job.  It’s about whether folks can send their kids to college; retire with a little dignity and security.  And it’s about whether people will have more money in their pockets, which means more money in our economy, which means more jobs.  That’s what’s at stake.

And when it comes to jobs, just think back to when all those folks in Washington were telling Barack to let the auto industry go under, with more than a million jobs on the line.  But Barack had the backs of American workers.  He put his faith in the American people.  (Applause.)  And as a result, today, the auto industry is back, and more importantly, people are back at work, able to provide for their families.  But that’s what’s at stake.  That’s the choice we face.

And think for a minute about what this administration has done to stand up for American consumers.  I’m talking about families getting hit with all those hidden credit card fees.  I’m talking about students drowning in debt, our seniors losing their homes and savings because they were tricked into loans they couldn’t afford, probably couldn’t understand.

And that’s why my husband created a new consumer watchdog with just one simple mission -– that is to protect folks from exactly these kinds of abuses.  Because when you’ve worked and you’ve saved and you’ve followed the rules, you shouldn’t lose it all to someone trying to make a little easy money.  Your President knows that is not fair, it’s not right.  (Applause.)  And he is working to do something about it.  (Applause.)  Absolutely.

And what about all that this administration has done for our small businesses?  These are the companies that create two-thirds of all new jobs each year -- two-thirds.  And when you’re talking about these small businesses you’re talking about the mother who opens up the drycleaner to take care of her kids.  That’s what you’re talking about.  You’re talking about the family that’s been running that neighborhood diner for generations.  Or the veteran who starts -- launches a startup and pursues the American Dream he fought so hard for.  See, this is who we’re talking about.  These are the folks who work themselves to the bone during the day, then head home and pore over the books late into the night, determined to make the numbers add up.

And for these folks, that small business tax cut that this administration has passed, that means the difference between hiring new employees or handing out pink slips.  It means the difference between keeping their doors open or closing shop for good.  But that’s the choice that we face.

And what about the very first bill my husband signed into law -- the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work?  (Applause.)  And Barack did this because he knows what it means when women are treated unfairly in the workplace.  He watched his own grandmother -– a woman with a high school education -– work her way up to become a vice president at a little community bank.  And she worked hard, and she was good at what she did.  But like so many women, she hit that glass ceiling, and watched women -- men, no more qualified than she was –- men she had actually trained –- be promoted up the ladder right ahead of her.  So believe me, for Barack, this issue is not abstract.  This isn’t hypothetical. 

He signed this bill because he knows that closing that pay gap for so many women can mean the difference of losing $50, $100, $500 from each paycheck, or having that money in their pockets to buy gas and groceries, and put clothes on the back of their children.  (Applause.)  He did it because when nearly two-thirds of women are breadwinners or co-breadwinners, women’s success in this economy is the key to families’ success in this economy.  (Applause.)  

And he did it because, as he put it, we believe that here in America there are no second-class citizens in our workplace.  But that’s what’s at stake.

And let’s talk for a minute, as Kelly did, about health care.  She reminded us two years ago we made history together by finally passing health reform.  But now there are folks actually talking about repealing that reform.  And today, we have to ask ourselves, are we going to stand by and just let that happen?

AUDIENCE:  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  And since we passed this law, millions of our senior citizens have saved on average more than $600 a year on their prescription drugs.  (Applause.)  So are we going to take that savings away from them?  Or will we make sure that our parents and grandparents can afford to stay healthy into their golden years?  Are we going back to the days when insurance companies could deny our children coverage of pre-existing conditions, things like diabetes, cancer, asthma?  Or will we stand up and say that in this country, as Kelly said, no one -- no one should ever have to choose between going bankrupt or watching their child suffer because they can’t afford a doctor. 

And then when those kids grow up and they graduate from school, we know how hard it is for them to find a job that provides insurance.  That’s why, as part of health reform, kids can now stay on their parent’s insurance until they’re 26 years old.  (Applause.)  And today, that is how 2.5 million of our young people are getting their coverage.  So are we going to take that insurance away from our children?  Or will we say that we don’t want our sons and our daughters going without health care when they’re just starting out in life, trying to build families and careers of their own?  But that’s the choice we face.  Those are the stakes.

And think, for a moment, about what’s been done on education.  Think about all the investments to raise standards and reform our public schools.  This is about improving the circumstances for millions of children in this country.  These are our children -- children we know today that are sitting in crumbling classrooms, children that we know have so much promise, could be anything they wanted if we just gave them the chance.

And think about how my husband has been fighting for the DREAM Act -- (applause) -- so that talented, hardworking young people who were brought to this country through no fault of their own can have a chance to earn their citizenship.  This is about responsible young men and women who want to go to college,
they want to defend our country, they want to contribute to our economy.  And it's time that we gave them the chance.  It’s time.  (Applause.)

And think about how we tripled in investments and job training at community colleges.  This is about hundreds of thousands of hardworking people who are determined to get the skills they need for the jobs they need for better wages.  These are the people doing everything we ask of them.  They’re working a full-time job, trying to raise their kids, but still making it to class in the evenings, working late into the night, because they desperately want something better for their families.

And make no mistake about it, this investment that we make in our students, in our workers will determine nothing less than the future of this economy.  It’s going to determine whether we’re prepared to make the discoveries and to build the industries that will allow us compete with any country anywhere in the world.  That’s what’s at stake.  (Applause.)

And let us not forget what it meant when my husband appointed those two brilliant Supreme Court justices -- (applause) -- and for the first time in history, our daughters and our sons watched three women take their seat on our nation’s highest court.  (Applause.)  And let us not forget the impact their decisions will have on our lives for decades to come -– on our privacy and security, on whether we can speak freely, worship openly, and yes, love whomever we choose.  But that’s what’s at stake.  (Applause.)  That is the choice we’re facing.

And finally, let us not forget all this administration has done to keep our country safe and restore our standing in the world.  Thanks to our brave men and women in uniform, we finally brought to justice the man behind the 9/11 attacks and so many other horrific acts of terror.  (Applause.)

As he promised, my husband ended the war in Iraq, brought our troops home for the holidays.  (Applause.)  And I know that members of the Minnesota National Guard, the Red Bulls, have played a key role in that effort.  And we are all so proud of them -- (applause) -- all of the men and women in this state who have served our country so bravely.  And we are working hard to give them and their families the education, the employment and the benefits they’ve earned. 

And finally, because my husband ended "don’t ask, don’t tell," -- (applause) -- our troops will never again have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love.  (Applause.) But that’s what’s at stake.  Those are the choices that we face.

So make no mistake about it, whether it’s health care or the economy, whether it’s education or foreign policy, the choice we make in this election will determine nothing less than who we are as a country, but more importantly, it will determine who we want to be.  Who are we?

Will we be the country where opportunity is limited to just the few at the top?  Who are we?  This is what we have to decide.  Or will we be a place where if you work hard, you can get ahead, no matter who you are or how you started out?  Who are we?  (Applause.)

Will we tell folks who have done everything right, but are struggling a little bit, are we going to tell them, “tough luck, you’re on your own”?  Who are we?  Or will we honor that fundamental American belief that this country is strongest when we’re all better off?  Who are we going to be?  (Applause.)  Will we continue all the change we’ve begun and the progress we’ve made, or are we just going to allow everything we fought for to just slip away? 

AUDIENCE  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  But that is the choice we face.  Those are the stakes.

And believe me, everywhere I go I remind people, your President, Barack Obama, knows this all too well.  He understands these issues because he’s lived them.  He was raised by a single mother who struggled to put herself through school and pay the bills, and when she couldn’t keep it together, who stepped up?  His grandmother -- waking up every morning to catch that bus before dawn to that job at the bank.  And even though she was passed over all those years for promotion, she never once complained.  She just kept showing up, kept doing her best.  How many people in our lives do we know like that?  Just keep moving forward. 

So believe me, Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.  He knows what it means when someone doesn’t have a chance to fulfill their potential.  Those are the experiences that have made him the man, and, more importantly, the President that he is today.  And we are blessed to have him.  (Applause.)  

And that is what I hear in his voice when he returns home from a long day of travel or working at the Oval Office and he tells me about the people he’s met.  And that’s what I see in those quiet moments late at night, after the girls have gone to bed, and he’s still up, poring over briefings and reading the letters that people have sent him.  The letter from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won’t cover her care.  The letter from the father still struggling to pay his family’s bills.  The letters from far too many young people with so much promise, but so few opportunities. 

And I hear the passion and determination in his voice.  He says, “Michelle, you won’t believe what folks are still going through.”  That’s what he -- he says, “Michelle, this isn’t right.  We have got to fix this.  There is so much more to do.”
(Applause.)

What you have to remember about your President is that he never forgets a story -- never forgets it.  If he’s had a minute and a decent conversation with you, he will never forget your story.  It becomes imprinted on his heart.  And that is what he carries with him all day, every day -– it is our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams.  And believe me, that is where Barack gets his passion, that’s where he gets his toughness and his fight. 

And let me tell you, that’s why, even in the hardest moments, when it seems like all is lost, Barack Obama never loses sight of the end goal -- never.  (Applause.)  He never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.  Like his grandmother, he just keeps moving forward.  See, because the important thing you have to know about your President is that he has a vision for this country.  And it is a vision that we all share.  I don’t care where you’re from, what party you are from.  We do share this vision.  We do know that. 

But let me tell you, I have said it before and I will say it again:  Barack can’t do this alone.  He cannot to do this alone -- that was never the promise.  He needs your help.  He needs your faith.  He needs your hard work.  He needs you to make those calls.  More importantly, register those voters today.  He needs you to take those “I’m In” cards -- if you haven’t gotten one, get one -- sign it.  And get your friends and your neighbors, your colleagues, your church members, go to the synagogue -- get people to sign up.  Convince them just to give a little bit of their time each week to fight for what’s at stake.  (Applause.)

Because we all know that this has never, ever been about just one extraordinary man –- I think my husband is awesome -- (applause) -- but this journey has never been about him.  It has always been about us -- all of us coming together for the values we believe in and the country we want to be.  That’s what we fought for four years ago -- three years ago, how long has it been?  (Laughter.)

Now, I am not going to kid you, this next phase of the journey, it is going to be long, that I guarantee you.  It is going to be hard.  And there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way.  So be prepared for that.  But the truth is, that is how change always happens in this country.  It always does.  The reality is, is that change is slow.  Real change never happens all at once.

But if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, working for that vision that we know and believe in, then eventually we get there.  We always do.  We always do.  We never go backward, we never have.  (Applause.)  Maybe not in our lifetime, maybe not in our children’s lifetime, maybe in our children or our grandchildren’s lifetimes.  Because in the end, we have to remember that’s what this is all about. 

We can never lose sight of the fact that we are fighting these battles not for ourselves.  We are fighting them for our sons and daughters.  We are fighting them for our grandsons and our granddaughters.  (Applause.)  We are fighting for the world we want to leave for them.  This is not about us.  We’ve had so many people who have fought for us already -- it’s our turn.

And believe me, I am in this fight not just as a mother who wants to leave a legacy for her daughters.  I’m in this as a citizen who knows what we can do together to change this country for the better.  Because the truth of the matter is, is that my girls will be fine.  Malia and Sasha are blessed -- I remind them of that every day.  (Laughter.)  And that’s probably true for so many of the young people in this room.

But I think the last few years have shown us the truth of what Barack has always said:  that if any child in this country falls behind, then that matters to all of us, even if he is not our son, even if she is not our daughter.  It matters to all of us.  If any family in this country struggles, then we cannot be fully content with our own family’s good fortune -- because in the end, that’s not who we are.  We cannot separate our own individual stories from the broader American story.  Because we know that in this country, we rise and we fall together.  (Applause.)  And if we make the right choices, and have the right priorities, we can ensure that everyone in this country gets a fair shake and everyone has a chance to get ahead.  That’s what’s at stake.  That’s what we’re working for.

So it is time for us to get moving.  No, now is the time.  No, I’m serious.  Now is the time.  We don’t have days to ponder or wonder.  If we know who we want to be then now is the time to work.  There is one person who will be working this presidential race who can get us there. 

So I have to ask you just one last question:  Are you in?  (Applause.)  No, no, I need to really hear this.  Are you in?  Are you in?  (Applause.)  Because let me tell you, I am so fired up.  And I hope you all know we are going to be working hard every minute of the day.  We need you by our sides.  We can make this happen.  I know we can.  We have so much more work to do. 
I will see you out on the campaign trail. 

You all, thank you.  God bless.  (Applause.) 

END
6:17 P.M. CDT