Remarks by the First Lady at Joining Forces Event -- Department of Labor

Department of Labor
Washington, D.C.

11:34 A.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Good morning, everyone.  Please -- thank you so much.  Please be seated.

Well, this is good stuff, right?  I want to start by thanking Secretary Solis for her outstanding leadership here at the Department of Labor.  I also want to thank all of the DOL employees here today for all of your hard work and all of your dedication.  I have had some wonderful visits here with all of you, and this is another great visit.

The fact is that without all of you, there wouldn’t be days like this.  And my husband and I are so grateful for every single thing that you do.  Congratulations on your work.

Today is a big day for our troops, our veterans, and for their families.  And we have quite a group assembled here today to help celebrate.  It just warms my heart, but it also shows just how important this issue is. 

We have the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, and his wife, Patty; the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter; the Secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force are here today.  We have Representative Gwen Moore, I believe, who is here today.  We have General Marty Dempsey, and all of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are here today.  We have my dear friends, their spouses, the women who keep me up -- and keep them up and keep them focused.  They are all here. 

And I’d like to give a special thanks to Deanie Dempsey for all of her leadership on behalf of military families.  But all of these women do a great job, and they have been terrific partners.

We’ve got some of the nation’s businesses and nonprofit leaders here today, and we also have many of our troops, our veterans and our military families.  And of course, we have brave, courageous caregivers like RyAnne, who is here today.

I want to thank you all for being here.  And I also want to thank RyAnne for sharing her story.  And although she was too modest to admit it, the degree she earned while caring for her husband was a PhD.  (Laughter.)  So that’s pretty amazing.  (Applause.)

Over the past few years, one of my greatest privileges as First Lady has been spending time with families just like RyAnne’s all across the country.  I’ve met wounded warriors who are facing challenges that none of us could even begin to imagine.  Their lives have been flipped upside down.  They’ve dealt with surgery after surgery, month after month of pain.  Yet their spirits are always up, and that’s something that I say -- I mean, if each of us could spend a moment with a wounded warrior, we would never complain about our own plight.
 
Their minds are always set on their goals for the months and years ahead.  That’s something very special about them.  Even in the toughest time, they're focused on what they're going to do next.  They tell me about how they can’t wait to get back home, how they’re determined to make it to a daughter’s piano recital, or how they’re not just going to walk again, but how they’re planning to run, and how they're going to run marathons.

This is what you see consistently.  It's the spirit that makes our military so unique.  And their families are just as inspiring.  These are men and women and children who will do anything for their loved ones, no matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice, no matter the consequences. 

They are spouses who put their lives and careers on hold.  They are moms and dads who spring into action the minute they get that phone call.  And of course, they are children who put on a brave face and do everything they need to do to make things better.  They are the reasons all of us are here today.

We're here because we want to recognize the extraordinary dedication, sacrifice and service of our nation's caregivers, not simply with words, but with deeds.  And that’s what today's announcement from Secretary Solis and the Department of Labor is all about.

The rules they’ve proposed under the Family Medical Leave Act will help more military family members take the time they need to care for their loved ones.  Now, this means that more caregivers can now provide support at a hospital for days or weeks at a time.  They can help their loved ones make that transition back home.  And they can do it all without worrying about whether they will lose their job.  And we all know the kind of difference that can make for our wounded warriors and for their families.

Another example:  Sandy Cuddihy.  She's a Marine mother from Bellevue, Illinois.  Last summer, her son lost his lower legs when he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan.  As he rehabilitated in both Bethesda and San Diego, Sandy, his mom, was there.  She did whatever was needed, like RyAnne -- feeding him meals, working with doctors and nurses to control his pain, sleeping by his bedside night after night.
 
And after it all, this is what she said; she said, "All I cared about was knowing that he's alive.  I knew we could figure the rest out."  And because she qualified for the Family and Medical Leave Act, Sandy had the flexibility to figure it out, without having to choose between keeping her job or caring for her son.

And that’s exactly why we're all so excited about today.  Because these new rules will give even more families the type of support and flexibility that Sandy had. 

You see, these new rules now also include veterans.  If you’ve served in the past five years and you’re still dealing with a serious injury, a qualifying member of your family can now take time off from work to care for you.  And as Secretary Solis mentioned, the protections don’t just benefit our wounded servicemembers and veterans.  They also help families of all our armed forces personnel deal with the unpredictability of military life.

 They allow folks who qualify to take time off to care for their kids when a spouse is deployed unexpectedly.  If a family member needs a few hours during the afternoon to talk to someone about finances, they can do that.  And if there's a spouse on a home break, you can take time off to be with them before they head back out.

So these new rules will make a real difference for our military families in so many ways.  And remember, these protections are simply a few of the many steps this administration has already taken on behalf of our caregivers.

My husband signed landmark legislation to help caregivers receive stipends, training, counseling, and other assistance that they’ve earned.  And under the direction of Secretaries Shinseki, Panetta, and Gates, the Department of Defense and the Department of Labor have strengthened their support for caregivers as well. 

Their teams have worked together to support caregivers whose loved ones are dealing with the signature wounds of our most recent conflicts, and that is traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress.

And the VA has helped caregivers receive health insurance to connect them with support coordinators who can direct them to the resources that they need.

So there has been a lot of really good and important progress made here.  But I also want to be clear that America's commitments to our troops and veterans don’t end with our government.

When our troops answer the call and take that oath, these men and women in uniform protect every last one of us in this country.  They keep every one of us safe.  So even if we're not part of a military family, we're all a part of the American family, and we all have an obligation to serve our troops and veterans as well as they've served us.

And that’s why Jill Biden and I started Joining Forces, a national campaign to rally all Americans to recognize, honor and support our men and women in uniform and their families.  And I have to tell you -- and I say this every time I am doing an event with military families -- the response to Joining Forces has been overwhelming.  It has been overwhelming.  And it's important for our troops and families to understand that.

People are stepping up.  People across the country have been finding ways to show their love and support for our wounded warriors and their families in all kinds of inspiring new ways.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the USO, and Hire Heroes USA have worked together on an exciting program called Career Opportunity Day.  Now, these events are small, comfortable gatherings just for wounded warriors and their spouses and caregivers where these folks can interact with employers, learn about job and career opportunities that suit their talents, and even sharpen their interviewing skills with mock interviews.

And today, we're announcing 14 new events like this at locations around the country.  And right here in D.C., the Chamber's Military Spouse Business Alliance is announcing that in May, they're hosting a hiring fair exclusively for wounded warriors and caregivers at Walter Reed.  And I’d like to give a special thanks to Mary Winnefeld, Admiral Sandy Winnefeld’s wife, for her leadership in creating this event.  She has been terrific to work with.

But you don’t have to be in the military or part of a nationwide coalition to make an impact on this issue.  Every single one of us can help in some way.  And here are just some of the few things people can think about doing.

There are two incredible organizations –- Operation Homefront and the Semper Fi Fund.  They've added volunteer opportunities to JoiningForces.gov so that more Americans can help support our military caregivers.  So people can go on to that website. 

It can be something as simple as providing childcare or lawn care for a wounded warrior's family.  People can think about volunteering at one of these many community events.  Or, if you have the skills, helping a veteran's organization update its website or apply for a grant. 

The thing is to be creative, and to find the thing that you can do best, and find out how to apply it on behalf of the many organizations around the country that are working on behalf of our troops, veterans, caregivers and families.  Whatever skills and time that you have to offer, there is any number of opportunities to serve.

So I hope that everyone in this country will ask themselves one simple question:  "What can I do to support these brave military families who have given us all so much?"  That’s the one question that we all need to ask. 

And that’s really what today is all about.  It’s about showing our respect.  It's about showing our gratitude for the men and women who have sacrificed so much for this country. 

So to all the troops and veterans here today and in communities across the country, I hope that you can feel the love and support of your country.  The one thing I ask when I talk to military leaders is, we want to make sure these efforts are felt on the ground.  It's one thing to talk about them here and to have wonderful press conferences, but the goal is that these men and women serving in bases and in regular communities across the country, that they feel this. 

And the message that I have to troops and their families and our veterans is that, if you haven't yet felt it, I promise you that it's coming.  That I promise you.  We are going to work every day until every last one of you feels the pride and the honor that this entire country feels.  Every day, people are stepping up.  Every day, people are doing their part to show their appreciation. 

So I have no doubt that as long as we keep working together, as long as we all just keep joining forces to support these amazing families, we will be able to serve all of you as well as you've served us.

So I want to again congratulate everyone here.  I want to thank our troops and their families.
 
God bless you all, and God bless the United States of America.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)

END
11:48 A.M. EST

Remarks by the President at the House Democrats Issues Conference

Hyatt Regency Hotel
Cambridge, Maryland

1:36 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you!  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  All right, everybody have a seat.  Now, let me begin by saying I was told that on a CD that I've just received -- (laughter) -- that all of you participated in a rendition of Al Green.  (Laughter.)  What I did not realize was that you also had a reverend who can preach as good as Al Green in John Larson.  (Applause.)  I kept on looking for the collection plate getting passed.  (Laughter.)  But, John, thank you for that rousing introduction. 

To the leader of this august body and soon to be once again Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi -- (applause.)  To the rest of the leadership team -- Steny Hoyer, Jim Clyburn, Xavier Becerra, and the best possible chair we could have for the DNC, Debbie Wasserman Schultz.  (Applause.)  We've got an all-star team assembled and ready to get to work.

I know that you guys have been here quite a bit.  You already had to suffer through a relatively long speech from me this week, so I'm not going to speak too long.  What I wanted to do, first of all, was just say thank you. 

So many of you have served this country, your districts, for years, through good times and through bad times.  And let's face it, public service doesn’t always get the credit that it deserves.  But knowing each and every one of you personally, understanding the sacrifices that you and your family members -- some who are here today -- make each and every day, understanding how much your heart bleeds when you see constituents are going through a tough time and how much you want to make sure that government serves as a force for good in their lives, I just want to say thank you for everything that you do. 

You guys are putting it all on the line because you believe in an America in which everybody gets a fair shot and everybody does their fair share and everybody plays by the same set of rules.  That's what you have been about, that's what this caucus is about, and that's the vision that we're fighting for, this year and in years to come.

Now, as I said at the State of the Union, the critical debate in this country right now, the defining question that faces all of us, is whether we are going to restore that sense of an American promise where if you work hard, if you're carrying out your responsibilities, if you're looking out for your family, if you're participating in your community, if you're doing what you're supposed to be doing, you have the chance to get a job that allows you to support your family, you won't be bankrupt when you get sick, you can send your children to college, you can retire with some dignity and some respect, you can expect that the next generation -- your children and grandchildren -- will do better than you did -- that American promise, that central driving force in what has created the greatest country, the largest economy, and the broadest middle class on Earth, that promise has been eroding for too many people.  And all of you know it. 

And this is not a new trend.  This is something that's been going on for years now.  Wages and incomes stagnant at the same time that costs keep going up and up and up.  Outsourcing, and jobs moving elsewhere.  Young people wondering, even if they invest in a college degree, are they going to be able to find a job that supports an ever-increasing load of debt.  And all of that was before the economic crisis hit in 2008-2009 that put millions of people out of work.

Now, here's the good news.  The good news is that we are moving in the right direction.  Thanks to your efforts, thanks to some tough votes that all of you took, thanks to the leadership that Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the leadership team showed, we righted the ship.  We did not tip into a Great Depression.  The auto industry was saved.  Credit started flowing to small businesses again.  And over the last 22 months, we have seen 3 million jobs created, the most jobs last year since 2005, more jobs in manufacturing than we’ve seen since the ‘90s.  (Applause.)  A lot of that has to do with tough decisions that you took.

I just came from Michigan.  And there are very few states that have been harder hit by these long-term trends than Michigan.  But you can feel this sense of renewed purpose and renewed hope in that state.  They understand that had we not acted, a million jobs might have been lost.  They understand that had we not acted, the Big Three automakers, but then, all the suppliers, the entire ecosystem of the economy in that state would have been decimated.  And now, they’re thinking, GM is number one again -- (applause) -- and Chrysler is on the move again and Ford is investing in plants and equipment again.  And you get a sense of movement, a restoration of hope and possibility. 

But people understand that the job is not done, not even close to being done yet.  And they understand that if we’re going to finish the job, then we’ve got to, first of all, make sure that American manufacturing is strong.  And that means that we’re out there creating a tax code that doesn’t provide tax breaks for companies that are shipping jobs overseas.  We are focusing on companies that are investing right here in the United States, because we believe that when you make it in America everybody benefits, everybody does well.  (Applause.)
 
 They understand that we need American energy.  And part of my goal on Tuesday was to dispel this notion that somehow we haven’t been on top of developing American energy -- oil and gas production up higher than they’ve been in eight years, percentage of imports lower than in the last 16.  We’ve been developing and opening up millions of acres to develop. 

But what we’ve also said is oil is not enough.  We’ve got to think about the future, not just look backwards at the past.  We’ve got to invest in solar and wind and biofuels.  We’ve already doubled our fuel efficiency standards on cars and trucks. We’ve got to make sure that we build on these successes, which are good for our economy and create jobs and, by the way, are also good for our environment.  And that’s important to the American people as well.  (Applause.)

I know the other side doesn’t always believe in this agenda. They think that the only subsidy that’s worth providing is subsidies to oil companies.  Well, as I said, we’ve been subsidizing oil companies for close to a century now.  Rarely have they been more profitable.  Let’s take some of that money, let’s take some of those tax breaks and make sure that we’re investing in a clean energy future that’s just as promising.

Skills for American workers, making sure that every young person in this country has the skills to succeed.  I told the story at the State of the Union, but I want to make sure everybody hears this, because we’re going to have to work hard on this.  Companies are starting to say it makes economic sense for us to move back here into the United States.  (Applause.)  Wages in places like China are going up faster than productivity.  American workers have never been more productive.  Energy costs increasingly are competitive here in the United States, partly because of all of the development that’s taking place around natural gas.  Transportation costs are higher from other places.
When you look at the whole package, a lot of companies are saying, we want to be here, close to our market.  But one of the biggest impediments is we’ve got to be able to find the skilled workers that are going to be managing million-dollar pieces of equipment. 

They don't all have to go to four-year colleges and universities -- although we need more engineers and we need more scientists, and we’ve got to make sure that college is affordable and accessible.  But we also need skilled workers who are going to community colleges, or middle-aged workers who are allowed to retrain, have a commitment to work, have that work ethic, but want to make sure that technology is not passing them by -- and so focusing on our community colleges, and making sure that they're matched up with businesses that are hiring right now, and making sure that they help to design the programs that are going to put them -- put people in place to get those jobs right away.

Making college more affordable, which I just spoke about at Michigan -- we’ve got an average of $24,000 worth of debt for every young person that's graduating right now.  They're starting off in a hole that most of us didn't have to start off with, and it’s brutal.  And there are ways we can solve it.  This caucus helped to make sure that we increased Pell Grants, and we increased student aid, but now -- there's some concrete things we’ve got to do right now, like making sure that the interest rates don't double on student loans this year, in July.  (Applause.)  We’re going to require Congress to act.

We’re going to also put pressure on states to make sure they’re prioritizing higher education.  We’re going to make sure that colleges and universities are held accountable and that they do what they need to do to hold down costs. 

But most of all, we’ve got to restore a commitment to the American values of hard work and responsibility and shared responsibility. 

Over the last three days, I’ve traveled around the country amplifying what we said on Tuesday.  One of the points I make -- and everybody understands this -- I say, if we’re going to make the investments we need, if we’re going to invest in basic science and research that leads to inventions like the Internet that create entire industries, entire platforms for long-term economic growth, if we're going to invest in the skills of our workers, if we're going to make sure we've got the best infrastructure in the world, if we're going to pay for this incredible military that just saved this young woman -- (applause) -- out of Somalia, if we're going to take care of the veterans once they're finished serving so that we serve them as well as they serve us -- (applause) -- all of those things cost money.  We've got to pay for it.

And if we're serious about paying for it, then, yes, we've got to cut out programs that don't work.  This caucus has gone ahead and been willing to make some of the toughest cuts we've ever made -- $2 trillion -- over $2 trillion in deficit reduction.  But we've also said, at a certain point, you know what, everybody has got to participate in this. 

And when we've got a trillion -- more than $1 trillion worth of tax breaks that were supposed to be temporary for the top 2 percent slated to continue, we've got a tax code full of loopholes for folks who don't need them and weren't even asking for them -- we've got to ask ourselves, what's more important to us?  Is it more important for me to get a tax break, or is it more important for that senior to know that they've got Medicare and Social Security that's stable?  (Applause.)  Is it more important for me to get a tax break, or is it better for that young person to get a break on their college education?  Is it more important for me to get a tax break, or is it more important that we care for our veterans?

This is -- one of the biggest things I'm going to be pushing back against this year is this notion that somehow this is class warfare, that we're trying to stir up envy.  Nobody envies rich people.  (Laughter.)  Everybody wants to be rich.  (Laughter.)  Everybody aspires to be rich, and everybody understands you got to work hard if you're going to be financially successful.  That's the American way.  The question is are we creating opportunity for everybody, which requires some investments.  And the question is how do we pay for that -- because when you give me a tax break that I don't need and the country can't afford, two things happen:  Either the deficit increases or, alternatively, somebody else has to pay the tab -- that senior, or that student, or that family who’s struggling to make ends meet.

So we’re going to push hard for the Buffett Rule.  We’re going to push hard to make sure that millionaires, somebody making over a million dollars a year isn’t getting tax breaks and subsidies that they don’t need.  (Applause.)  Not out of envy, but out of a sense of fairness and a sense of mutual responsibility and a sense of commitment to this country’s future.  (Applause.) 

That’s what we’re fighting for.  And the American people understand that.  (Applause.)

The same way that they understand we’re going to have to keep in place smart regulations that assure that a health care company can’t drop you right when you get sick, or charge women differently than men.  These other folks want to roll back financial regulatory reform.  After all that we’ve been through, you want to water down and weaken rules that make sure that big banks and financial institutions have to play by the same rules as everybody else?  That makes no sense.

The American people understand that.  You understand that.  That’s what you’ve been fighting for.

So obviously we’re in an election season, and when the other side decides who it is that they want to be their standard bearer, then we’re going to have a robust debate about whose vision is more promising when it comes to moving this country forward.  And it’s going to be a tough election, because a lot of people are still hurting out there and a lot of people have lost faith generally about the capacity of Washington to get anything done.

The main thing I want to urge all of you is that even as we are out there making our case, even as we push hard to persuade not just the American people, but hopefully some folks on the other side about the brightness of our future if we work together, I think it’s important during the course of this year not to forget that there’s still work that we can do right now. 

We can extend the payroll tax cut right now without drama and without delay.  (Applause.)  We can work together right now to help startups and entrepreneurs get easier financing and use R&D more effectively.  There are things we can do right now.

And so even as we engage in a robust debate with the other side, I want us all to remember that there are folks out there that are still counting on us.  There are people out there who are still hurting, and wherever we have an opportunity, wherever there is the possibility that the other side is putting some politics aside for just a nanosecond in order to get something done for the American people, we’ve got to be right there ready to meet them.  We’ve got to be right there ready to meet them.  (Applause.)

On the other hand, where they obstruct, where they're unwilling to act, where they're more interested in party than they are in country, more interested in the next election than the next generation, then we’ve got to call them out on it.  We’ve got to call them out on it.  (Applause.)  We’ve got to push them.  We can't wait.  We can't be held back.

At the State of the Union, obviously I talked about our military.  I had a chance to see some folks out at Buckley in Colorado as well.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Yay, Colorado!

THE PRESIDENT:  There you go.  (Laughter.)  Obviously, the work that our military has done this last decade has filled us with awe.  I think, as you saw during the State of the Union, everybody stands up when you mention the military -- and appropriately so.  That's something that should not be partisan. But the point that I tried to make on Tuesday, and I hope we all keep in mind, is there’s a reason we admire them, and it’s not just because they do their job so well.  It’s not just because of their incredible capacity and training and skill.  It’s also because of an ethic that says, you know what, we’re all in this together.  I can only succeed if the guy next to me and the gal next to me are successful as well.  I can only succeed if somebody has got my back.

We do not succeed on our own.  We all have to pull our weight.  We all have to do our work.  America is not about handouts or bailouts or copouts.  We all have to focus on what our responsibilities are.  We have to do our jobs, but we also understand that we are always more successful when we do it together. 

Black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Latino, Native America, gay, straight -- it doesn't matter.  What matters is that we have this sense of common purpose and common resolve.  That's what is going to help ensure that this recovery continues.  That's what is going to make sure that this country’s future is bright.  That is at the core, I believe, not only of what it means to be a Democrat, but I also think that's at the core of what it means to be an American.

I believe in you guys.  You guys have had my back through some very tough times.  I’m going to have your back, as well.  And together we’re going to move this country forward. 

God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)  And thank you, Democratic caucus, for all the great work that you do.  (Applause.)  Let’s go out there and change the country.  Thank you.

END 
1:59 P.M. EST

Remarks by the First Lady at a DNC Event -- Palm Beach, FL

Private Residence
Palm Beach, Florida

4:28 P.M. EST
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, my goodness.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  Wow.  Thank you all.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  Please, rest yourselves.  We want you ready to work.  (Laughter.)  So don't waste any energy on clapping.  Oh, never mind, you can clap.  (Laughter.)  But it is a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you. 
 
And I want to start by thanking Michele for that -- my staff is back there and they were saying, we need to get Michele on the road.  I mean, she covered every point.  I'm done.  (Laughter.)  I am done.  You're amazing, Howard.  Thank you both for hosting us in your beautiful home.  You have an amazing family.  We had a great time.  I was drilled about iCarly, Air Force One -- I think they covered it all.  You two need to go into media interviewing.  (Laughter.)  You could give Oprah a run for her money.  (Laughter.)  But we have to give them a round of applause for opening up this beautiful home.  (Applause.)
 
And I also want to recognize Congressman Deutch and his family, who are here.  (Applause.)  And there's a birthday girl here as well. 
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Yes, she's a Deutch.
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Yeah, happy birthday.  And Mayor Muoio, for her leadership.  Thank you both.  Thank you all for joining us today.  (Applause.)
 
And of course, I want to thank the co-hosts who made this event such a wonderful success -- Ewa, Danny, Elaine, Jerry, Mark, Andrew -- awesome.  Way to go.  Let's give them a round of applause.  (Applause.)  They do it so seamlessly.
 
And finally, I have to thank all of you for taking the time to join us here this afternoon.  And I've seen a few of you around the country, and I'm always amazed that you come back to hear me again and again.  (Laughter.)  Funny, you're not sick of me yet.  (Laughter.)  But it is always a joy, and it feels like a privilege and an honor when I come out here and I see so many people who are just positive and enthusiastic.  I tell people, as I see them in rope lines and photo lines, it's important for you to know that this keeps us going.  I mean, for me and for Barack, it's your love, it's your support, it's your energy that inspires us.  So we are so grateful.
 
And I know there’s a reason that you all are here today.
 
You’re here because you know that we stand at a fundamental crossroads for our country.  You’re here because you know that in less than a year -- and it is -- the months are closing in -- we are going to make a choice that will impact our lives for decades to come.
 
And you’re here because you know that the choice that we make won’t just affect all of us, but it's going to affect our children and our grandchildren, and the world we leave for them long after we’re gone.
 
And that’s truly why I’m here.  That's why I do this.  That's where I get my energy.

You see, as First Lady, I have the privilege of traveling all across this country, meeting folks from all different backgrounds, and hearing what’s going on in their daily lives. 
 
And believe me, people are struggling.  I hear about their struggles –- the bills they’re trying to pay, the businesses they’re trying to keep afloat.  I hear about how people are doing everything in their power to keep it together, taking the extra shift, working the extra job; how they’re saving and sacrificing, many people 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, with the cost of things like gas and groceries and tuition continuing to rise -- and people’s paychecks just haven’t kept up.
 
So when the economic crisis hit, for far too many families, the bottom completely fell out.  Now, over the past three years, this administration, your President, has worked very hard to dig us out of this mess.  And there has been a lot of amazing progress made.  We have had 22 straight months of private sector job growth, and the unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in nearly three years.  (Applause.)
 
But we know that we still have a long way to go.  And this President of yours has been working hard to rebuild our economy based on, as Michele said, a vision that we all share -– the belief that, as Barack says, that hard work should pay off; that responsibility should be rewarded; and that everyone should get a fair shot, and do their fair share, and play by the same rules.  Michele, you said this as well -- these are basic American values.  These are the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself.
 
By now, you know my story:  My father was a blue-collar worker, working at the city water plant, and we lived in a small apartment on the South Side of Chicago.  Neither of my parents attended college, but they worked, and they saved, and they sacrificed, because they wanted something better for me and my brother.
 
And more than anything else, that’s what’s at stake -- the fundamental promise that no matter who you are, or how you started off, if you work hard, you can build a decent life for yourself, and an even better life for your kids.
 
And on just about every issue -– from health care to education to the economy -– that is the choice we face.
 
For example, when we talk about tax cuts for the middle class, or unemployment insurance for folks out of work, that’s about whether people will be able to heat their homes, put a hot meal on their table, put gas in their car so that they can even look for work.  It’s about whether folks can afford to own a home, send their kids to college, retire with dignity, with security.  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.  That is the choice that we face.
 
And if we think for a moment about what this administration has done to stand up for American consumers -- I’m talking about families who are getting hit with those hidden credit card fees; I’m talking about students drowning in debt; seniors losing their homes, their savings because they were tricked into loans that they couldn’t afford, couldn't understand. 
 
That’s why my husband created a new consumer watchdog with just one simple mission –- and that is to protect folks from exactly these kind of abuses.  Because he believes that when you’ve worked hard, and when you’ve saved -- when you've followed the rules, you shouldn’t lose it all to someone looking to make some easy money.  That’s not fair.  That's not right.  And your President is working hard to do something about it.
 
And then you have to think about all that we've done together for small businesses, and the companies that create two-thirds of all new jobs each year -- two-thirds.  And I’m talking about the mother who opens a drycleaner on the corner to provide for her kids.  That's who we're talking about.  Or the family that's been running that neighborhood diner for generations.  Or the veteran who launches a startup and pursues that American Dream that he fought so hard for.
 
Those are the folks that we're talking about.  The folks who work themselves to the bone during the day, and then they go home at night, poring over the books, trying to make it all add up -- determined.
 
For these folks, these tax increases [sic] mean so much.  The small business tax cuts this administration has passed mean the difference between these people hiring new employees or handing out pink slips; between keeping their doors open, or closing shop for good.
 
That is the choice that we face.
 
And how 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 he did this because he knows what it means when women aren’t treated fairly in the workplace.  He watched his own grandmother -– a woman with a high school education –- worked her way up to become the vice president at a little community bank.  And she worked hard.  She was good at her job.  But, like so many, she hit a glass ceiling, and she watched men no more qualified than she was -– men she actually trained -– be promoted up the ladder ahead of her.
 
So believe me, Barack, for him, this issue is not abstract, it's not hypothetical.  And he signed this bill because he knows that closing that pay gap can mean the difference between women losing $50, $100, $500 from each check, or having that money for gas and groceries and school clothes for their kids.

He did it because when nearly two-thirds of women are breadwinners or co-breadwinners, he knows that women’s success in this economy is the key to families’ success in this economy.  (Applause.)  Yes.  And he did it because, as he put it, we believe that here in America, there are no second-class citizens in our workplace.
 
And that’s what’s at stake in this election.  (Applause.)
 
And let’s just talk for a minute about health care.  Last year, we made history together by finally passing health reform.  (Applause.)  But now, there are folks actually talking about repealing this reform.  And today, we have to ask ourselves, are we going to stand by and let this happen?
 
AUDIENCE:  No!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Are we going to let insurance companies refuse to cover things like cancer screenings, prenatal care that save money, but more importantly, save lives?  Or will we stand up for our lives, and the lives of the people we love?  (Applause.)
 
Are we going to go back to the day when insurance companies could deny our children coverage because they have pre-existing conditions like cancer or diabetes or even asthma?  Or will we stand up and say that in this country, 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 our kids get older and they graduate from school, we know how hard it is for them to find jobs, especially jobs that have insurance.  And that’s why, as part of health reform, kids can now stay on their parents’ insurance until they’re 26 years old.  And today, that’s how 2.5 million of our young people are getting their coverage.  (Applause.)
 
So are we going to take insurance away from those kids?  Or will we say that we won't let out sons and daughters go without health care, when they’re just starting out and building their families and careers?  Are we going to fight for this?
 
That is the choice that we face.  (Applause.)
 
And think, for a moment, about what’s been done on education.  I mean, think about all those investments that your President has made to raise standards and reform public schools.  I mean, this is about improving the circumstances for millions of children in this country.  I mean, these are our children, sitting in crumbling classrooms today; kids with so much promise; kids who could be anything they wanted if we just gave them a chance.
 
And think about how we've tripled investments for job training at community colleges.  I mean, this is about hundreds of thousands of hard-working folks who are determined to do whatever it takes to get the skills they need for a better job and better wages.  I mean, these are the folks that are doing it all.  They’re working full-time.  They’re raising their kids.  But they still make it to class every evening, they study late into the night, because they desperately want something better for their families.
 
And make no mistake about it, this investment in our students and 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 let us compete with any country, anywhere in the world.
 
That is what’s at stake.  (Applause.)
 
And let’s not forget what it meant when my husband appointed those two brilliant Supreme Court justices -- (applause) -- and for the first time in history, our sons and our daughters watched three women take their seat on our nation’s highest court.  And consider the impact their decisions will have on our lives for decades to come -– on our privacy and security; on whether we speak freely, worship openly, and love whomever we choose.
 
That’s what’s at stake.  That is the choice that we’re facing.  (Applause.)
 
And finally, let’s not forget all that this administration has done to keep our country safe and restore our standing in the world.  (Applause.)  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.) 
 
Your President ended the war in Iraq, brought our troops home for the holidays.  (Applause.)  And we are working so very hard to give our veterans and their families the support, the education, the employment benefits that they have earned.  (Applause.)
 
And because Barack ended "don’t ask, don’t tell," our troops will never have to lie again about who they are to serve the country they love.  (Applause.)
 
That is what’s at stake.
 
So make no mistake about it, whether it’s health care or the economy; whether it’s education or foreign policy -- (phone rings) -- or someone calling on the phone -- (laughter) -- the choice we make will determine nothing less than who we are as a country, but more important, who do we want to be.  That's the question:  Who are we?
 
Will we be a country where opportunity is limited to a few at the top?  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?  That's the question.  Will we tell folks who’ve done everything right, but are still struggling -- just a little bit -- are we going to look those Americans in the eye and say, tough luck, you’re on your own?  I mean, who are we?
 
Or will we honor that fundamental American belief that this country is strongest when we’re all better off?  Will we continue all the change that we’ve begun, all the progress we’ve made?  Or will we allow everything we’ve fought for to just slip away?
 
Because that is the choice we face.  Those are truly the stakes.
 
And it is important for you to know that your President, my husband, Barack, he knows this deep in his core.  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.  He saw that.  And when she needed help, his grandmother stepped up, waking up every morning before dawn, getting on a bus to go to a job at the bank.  And even though she was passed over again and again, she never complained.  How many people do we know like that in our lives?  You never complain.  She just kept showing up, kept doing her best.  
 
So believe me, Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.  He knows what it means when someone you love 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 should be so proud to have him standing for us.  (Applause.)
 
And that is what I hear in his voice when he returns from traveling around the country, and he tells me about the people he’s met.  That’s what I see in those quiet moments late at night, after the girls have gone to bed, and he’s poring over the letters he's getting from people all over the country.  The letter from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won’t cover her care.  Or the letter from the father struggling to keep up, to pay his bills and keep his family under one roof.  The letter from too many young people with so much promise, but too few opportunities.
 
You hear the passion and the determination in his voice.  He's like, "Folks are struggling.  You will not believe what they're going through."  He says, "Michelle, this isn't right.  We've got to fix this.  We've got so much more work to do." 
 
You see, when it comes to the people he meets -- I tell people this everywhere -- Barack has a memory like a steel trap.  (Laughter.)  If he's had a few minutes with you and a decent conversation, he might not remember your name but he will never forget your story.  And it is those stories that stay imprinted on his heart.  And that's what he carries with him every day -- it is our collection of struggles, and our hopes and our dreams. 
 
That is where Barack gets his passion.  That is where he gets his toughness and his fight.  And that is why, even in the hardest moments, when it seems like all is lost, and we're wondering, what's going on?  What's he doing?  Why doesn't he do this?  Why doesn't he do that?  We're sweating him, but he's not sweating.  Because he never loses sight of the end goal.  That is the beauty of your President.  (Applause.)  He keeps his eye on the big prize; never lets himself get distracted by all the chatter and the noise.  He just keeps moving forward, one step at a time.
 
Because your President has a vision for this country -– a vision that we all share.  I don't care who you are.  This is the vision that made our country great.  But I have said this before, and I will say it again:  He cannot do this alone.  That was never the promise.  That was never a possibility.
 
He needs your help.  Even when you don't agree with him, he needs your help.  He needs you to make those calls and register those voters; get down on the ground and do that work to knock on those doors; take those "I’m In" cards, sign yourself up and your friends up, and your neighbors and your colleagues.  There's too much at stake.  Convince them to join in giving just a little part of their lives, a little time each week to this campaign. 
 
Because we all know that this is not just about one extraordinary man.  (Applause.)  This is not about Barack Obama -- though I have to admit, I think he's really cute and pretty fabulous.  (Laughter.)  This is really about us -– it always has been about us -- all of us coming together, believing in the country that we live in, working together to make it great.  It's about us.
 
But I am not going to kid you, this journey, as always, will be long.  It will be hard.  It will be full of twists and turns.  You see it now:  One minute -- you never know what's going to happen.  (Laughter.)
 
But the truth is, that’s how change always happens in this -- that's how change happens.  The reality is, change is slow; it never happens all at once -- never.  Not real change.  But if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, then eventually we get there.  We always do.  We always have.  We never go backwards.  Maybe not in our lifetime, but maybe in our children’s lifetime, or our grandchildren’s lifetime.
 
Because in the end, this is not about us.  In the end, we are not fighting these battles for ourselves.  We are fighting them for our sons and our daughters, and for our grandsons and our granddaughters.  We’re fighting for the world that we want to leave for them.  (Applause.)
 
And I’m in this fight not just as a mother who wants to leave a legacy for my daughters.  I’m in this as a citizen who knows what we can do together to make this country better.  Because the truth is, no matter what happens, my girls will be okay.  They are blessed.  My girls will have plenty of opportunities and advantages, and I'm sure that's true for many of the kids in your lives as well.
 
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 is left behind, then that should matter to us -- even if he is not our son, even if she is not our daughter.  It should matter to us.  (Applause.)
 
If any family in this country struggles, then we cannot be fully content with our own family’s good fortune.  That's not who we are.  In the end, we cannot separate our individual stories from the broader American story.  Because what we know is that in this country, we rise and we fall together.  And we know that if we make the right choices, and if we have the right priorities, we can ensure that everyone gets a fair shake, that everyone has a chance to get ahead. 
 
That is what’s at stake.
 
So it’s time for us to get moving.  (Laughter.)  It is time for us to get to work.  We don't have time to worry, to groan, to -- we don't have time. 
 
So I have one question:  Are you ready for this?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Are you in?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  No, we need you to be really in.  Are you in?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  There is a lot at stake.  We don't have time.  We need you fired up and ready to go and ready to make it happen.  Because this is too important for our future.
 
So I am counting on seeing all of you out there, doing whatever it is you do best -- taking your neighbors and shaking them a little bit.  (Laughter.)  Going to church and making sure people are registered to vote.  Yelling from the rooftops.  Pulling women aside -- just shaking them.  (Laughter.)  We need you.  And I know that if we come together, and we do this work, we will elect the President that this country deserves:  Barack Obama.
 
Thank you all.  God bless you.  (Applause.)
 
END
4:52 P.M. EST

Remarks by the First Lady at a DNC Event -- Sarasota, FL

Private Residence
Sarasota, Florida

1:50 P.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, my goodness!  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  This is beautiful.  I am never leaving.  (Laughter.)  It is such a pleasure and an honor to be back here.  I remember this event so well, because the Lobos are amazing -- terrific, warm family.  This is a beautiful house, beautiful venue.  I think I wanted to stay last time.  (Laughter.)  So we have to arrange this differently from now on.

But I want to start by thanking Caren for not just that kind introduction -- (applause) -- absolutely.  But I want to thank Caren and Dick and their wonderful family for hosting us in their home again, and for all that they’ve done on behalf of this administration, our family.  It's this kind of consistent support -- so many of you were here that time ago -- it matters.  It really does make a difference to us as we're working so hard.  So we are so grateful.  So a round of applause to all of you.  (Applause.)

And we have to thank Alyssa White for her wonderful performance.  She is a tremendous talent, a beautiful young woman.  (Applause.)  Sign of the future -- that's who we're working for. 

And of course, I want to thank our host committee for their outstanding work -- this is an amazing turnout.  And I heard you guys were flawless to work with, so thank you all.  I want to make sure that we thank the caterers, the wait staff, everyone who's worked so hard to make this event such a success.  Thank you all.  (Applause.)

And finally, thank you for joining us this afternoon.  And I know that there's a reason why you all are here today, and it has a little more to do with spending a wonderful, sunny afternoon with a wonderful view and good food and good friends.  You're here because you know that we stand at a fundamental crossroads for our country.  You’re here because you know that in less than a year from now, we're going to make a choice that will impact our lives for decades to come.

And you’re here because you know that that choice won’t just affect all of us, it will also affect our children and our grandchildren and the world we leave for them long after we’re gone.  (Applause.)  Absolutely. 

And that is also why I’m here today.  You see, as First Lady, I have had the privilege of traveling all across this great country, meeting folks from different backgrounds and hearing what’s going on in their lives.  And every day, I hear about their struggles -– the bills they’re trying to pay, the businesses they’re trying to keep afloat.  I hear about how people are taking that extra shift, working that extra job; how people are saving and sacrificing, 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 costs for things like gas and groceries and tuition have been rising, but people’s paychecks just haven’t kept up.

So when the economic crisis hit, for far too many families, the bottom just completely fell out.  And now, over the past three years, we have worked very hard to dig ourselves out of this mess.  And we have made some wonderful progress -- wonderful progress.  (Applause.)  We have had 22 straight months of private sector job growth, and the unemployment rate is now the lowest it’s been in nearly three years.  That's the truth.  (Applause.)

But we know that we have a long way to go.  And we’ve been working hard to rebuild our economy.  Your President has been working hard to build that economy based on a vision, a vision that we all share -– the belief, as my husband says, that hard work should pay off, that responsibility should be rewarded, and that everyone should get a fair shot, everyone should do their fair share and play by the same rules.  (Applause.)

And these are basic American values.  They’re the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself.  You know my story.  My father was a blue-collar worker, worked at a water plant.  My family lived in the South Side of Chicago, a little-bitty apartment.  My mother still lives there.  My room looks exactly the same.  (Laughter.)  She won't change the bedspread  -- nothing.  (Laughter.)  Neither of my parents attended college, but they worked and they saved and they sacrificed everything, because they wanted something more for me and my brother.

And more than anything else, that is what’s at stake, that 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 an even better life for your kids.

And on just about every issue -– from health care to education to the economy -– that is the choice we face.  For example, when we talk about tax cuts for middle-class families, or unemployment insurance for folks out of work, that’s about whether people can heat their homes; it's about whether or not people will be able to put a hot meal on their table, or put gas in their car so that they can get to work, look for work.  It’s about whether folks can afford to own a home; send their kids to college; retire with dignity and security.  It’s about whether people will have more money in their pockets, which means more money in our economy, which means more jobs.

And that’s what’s at stake here.  That is the choice that we face.

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

And that’s why my husband created a new consumer watchdog with just one simple mission –- (applause) -- and that is to protect folks from exactly these kind of abuses.  Because when you’ve worked hard and you’ve saved and you’ve followed the rules, your President believes that you shouldn’t lose it all to someone looking to make some easy money.  That’s not fair.  It’s not right.  And we are working hard, your President is working hard, to do something about it. 

And what about all we’ve done together for our small businesses, the companies that create two-thirds of all new jobs each year -- two-thirds.  I’m talking about the mother who opens up a dry-cleaning store in the neighborhood to provide for her kids.  Or the family that’s been running that neighborhood diner for generations.  Or the veteran who launches a startup and pursues that American Dream he fought so hard for. 

See, those are the folks who work themselves to the bone during the day, and then they head home and they pore over their books late into the night, determined to make those numbers add up.  That's who we're talking about.  For these folks, the small business tax cuts this administration has passed mean the difference between hiring new employees or handing out pink slips.  It's the difference between keeping their doors open, or closing up shop for good.   

And that is the choice that we face.  That is the difference.

And how 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.)  The first thing he did.  And he did this because he knows what it means when women aren’t treated fairly in the workplace.

Barack watched his own grandmother –- a woman with a high school education, who worked her way up to become a vice president at a little community bank.  And she worked hard, and she was very good at what she did.  But like so many others, she hit a glass ceiling.  She watched men no more qualified than she was –- men she had actually trained -– be promoted up the ladder ahead of her. 

So, believe me, Barack knows that, for him, this issue is not abstract -- this isn't hypothetical.  He signed this bill because he knows that closing that pay gap can mean the difference between women losing $50, $100, $500 from each paycheck, or having that money for gas and groceries, school clothes for their kids.  

He did it because when nearly two-thirds of women are breadwinners or co-breadwinners, he knows that 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. 

That is what's at stake here.  That's what we're fighting for.  (Applause.)

And let’s talk for just a minute about health care.  Last year, we made history together by finally -- finally passing health reform.  But now, there are folks out there actually talking about repealing that reform.  And today, we have to ask ourselves, are we going to stand by and let that happen?

AUDIENCE:  No!

MRS. OBAMA:  Are we going to let insurance companies refuse to cover things like cancer screenings, prenatal care that don’t just save money, but save lives?  Or will we stand up for our lives -- and for the lives of the people that we love?  (Applause.)   

Are we going back to the days when insurance companies could deny our children coverage because they have a preexisting condition like cancer or diabetes or even asthma?  Or will we stand up and say that in this country, no one should ever have to choose between going bankrupt or watching their child suffer because they can’t afford a doctor. 

And when our kids get older and graduate from school, we know how hard it is for them to find jobs -- or jobs with insurance, which are even harder.  And that's why, as part of health reform, kids can now stay on their parent's insurance until they’re 26 years old.  And today, that’s how 2.5 million of our young people are getting their coverage.  (Applause.)  

So will we take that insurance away from our kids?  Or will we say that we don’t want our sons and daughters going without health care when they’re just starting out, trying to build families and careers of their own?   But that is the choice we face.

And think for a moment about what’s been done on education. 

Think about all those investments to raise standards and reform our public schools.  This work is about improving the circumstances for millions of children in this country.  These are all our children.  Kids we know are sitting right now in crumbling classrooms -- kids who have so promise, kids who could be anything they wanted if we just gave them a chance.

Think about how we have tripled investments for job training at community colleges.  This is about hundreds of thousands of hardworking people who are determined to get the skills they need to better themselves -- get better jobs, get better wages.  These are the folks that are trying to do it all.  They’re working fulltime.  They’re raising their kids.  But they still make it to class every evening, study late into the night, because they desperately want something better for their families.

And make no mistake about it, this investment in our students and 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 let us compete with any country anywhere in the world.  That is what’s at stake.  That's what's at stake.  (Applause.)
 
And let’s not forget what it meant when my husband appointed those two brilliant Supreme Court justices, and for the first time in history -- (applause) -- our daughters and our sons watched three women take their seat on our nation’s highest court.  (Applause.)  And let’s 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 love whomever we choose.  That is what’s at stake here.  That is the choice we’re facing.  (Applause.)

And finally, let’s not forget all this administration has done to keep our country safe and restore our standing in the world.  (Applause.)  And 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.)  

My husband ended the war in Iraq, brought home our troops for the holidays.  (Applause.)  And we’re working to give our veterans and their family the education, the employment and the benefits they’ve earned.  (Applause.)

And because your President ended "don't ask, don't tell," our troops will never have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love.  (Applause.)

That is what’s at stake.  That is the choice we make.  (Applause.)

So make no mistake about it, whether it’s health care, 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, who we want to be.  Who are we?  Will we be a country where opportunity is limited to just the few at the top?  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?  Will we tell folks who’ve done everything right, but are still struggling to get by -- 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?  (Applause.)  

Who are we?  Who do we want to be?  Will we continue all the change we’ve begun and the progress we’ve made?  Or will we allow everything we’ve fought for to just slip away?  That is the choice we face.  Those are the stakes.

And believe me, Barack knows this better than anyone.  He understands these issues because he’s lived them.  He was raised by a single mother who struggled to put herself through school, pay the bills, and when she needed help, his grandmother stepped up, working every day, going to take the bus before dawn to that job at the bank.  And even though she was passed over for all those promotions, she never complained.  She never complained.  She just kept showing up, just kept doing her best.  

So 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 he is today.  And we are blessed to have him.  (Applause.)

And that is what I hear in his voice every day, when he returns home after a long day traveling around the country, and he tells me about the people he’s met.  That’s what I see in those quiet moments late at night, after the girls have gone to bed, and he’s poring over the letters 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 struggling to pay his family’s bills.  The letter from too many young people with so much promise, but so few opportunities. 

And I hear the passion and the determination in his voice.  He says, you will not believe what folks are going through.  That’s what he tells me.  He says, “Michelle, this isn't right.  We’ve got to fix this.  We have so much more work to do.”

See, when it comes to the people that your President meets, he has a memory like a steel trap.  (Laughter.)  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 is what he carries with him every single day.  It is our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams.  And that is where Barack gets his passion.  That’s where Barack gets that toughness and that fight. 

And that’s why, even in the hardest moments, when it seems like all is lost and we're all sweating -- and we're sweating him -- (laughter) -- Barack Obama never loses sight of the end goal.  He never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.  He just keeps moving forward.  (Applause.)  

And he does it because he has a vision for this country.  He has a vision.  A President has to have a vision.  It's a vision that we all share.  Deep down, we all share this vision. 

But I’ve said this before, I said it to you a few years ago and I will say it again:  He cannot do this alone.  That was never the promise.  He needs your help.  He needs you to make those calls, needs you to register those voters.  He needs you to take those “I’m in” cards and get them signed, and get your friends and your neighbors and colleagues to sign up.  Convince them to join you in giving just a little part of their life each week for the next few months to this campaign. 

Because we all know that this isn’t just about one extraordinary man -- although I admit I’m a little biased.  I think he's kind of cute.  (Laughter.)  But it is really, and has always been, about us -- all of us -- all of us coming together for the values we believe in and the country we want to be.

And I have never been one to kid you -- right?  I am not going to kid you today.  This journey is going to be long.  It is going to be hard -- it already has been -- with many twists and turns along the way.  But what an exciting story it is.  (Laughter.)  But the truth is that’s exactly how change always happens in this country.  The reality is that real change is slow, and it never happens all at once.

But if we keep showing up, if we keep focused and fighting the good fight, then we always get there.  We always do.  We always get there.  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.  In the end, we are not fighting these battles for ourselves.  We’re fighting them for our sons and our daughters, for our grandsons, for our granddaughters.  We’re fighting for the world we want to leave for them.  (Applause.)  For them.  

And I’m in this 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 will be okay.  They are blessed.  My girls will have plenty of advantages and opportunities in their lives.  And that’s probably true for so many of the kids in your lives as well.  But I think that the last few years have shown us the truth of what Barack has always said -- that if any child in this country is left behind, then that matters to all of us, even if she’s not our daughter, even if he’s not our son.  If any family in this country struggles, then we cannot be fully content with our own family’s good fortune. 

In the end, we cannot separate our own individual story from the broader American story.  Because we know that in this country, we rise and we fall together.  (Applause.)  And we know that if we make the right choices, if we have the right priorities, we can ensure that everyone -- everyone -- gets a fair shake and everyone has a chance to get ahead.  That is what’s at stake.

So it is time for us to get moving.  It is time for us to get it together, to get to work.  Stop complaining and worrying.  We need to stand up and work.  (Applause.)

So let me ask you one final question:  Are you in?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  Wait.  Are you in?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  Because I am so in.  (Laughter.)  I am so very in. 

So I hope that you all are fired up.  I hope that you all are ready to go.  And I look forward -- I am going to be out there so tough, as much as I can be, getting it done.  You all have to have our backs once again.  You have been amazing.  But this is going to be hard.  We can't take anything for granted and we need everyone -- every single one of you -- to be laser-focused, creating those smart women -- right?  (Applause.)  Building up that base.  Telling people the truth of who this President is and what he's done for so many across the country and around the world.  So we have to get it done. 

So thank you all.  Thank you for everything you've done for us.  Thank you for what you're going to do in the future.  We are going to work hard. 

God bless you all.  Thanks.

END
2:14 P.M. EST