Remarks by the President at a DNC Event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Private Residence
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

7:30 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Everybody have a seat.

I think I’m going to use this instead.  Is this working?  There you go. 

Well, what a spectacular evening, and thank you all for taking the time to be here.  I want to, first of all, obviously thank Rhonda and David for not only hosting this incredible event but also just being such great friends for so many years.  Thank you very much, you guys.  Really appreciate it.  (Applause.)

To those who helped to organize this event, thank you all.  To our outstanding DNC chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, we love her.  (Applause.)  To one of the finest mayors in the country, Michael Nutter.  (Applause.)  And to one of my dearest friends -- I always tell this story, when we were campaigning during the primary back in 2008, and it was still pretty rough going, this guy stepped up, endorsed me, despite the fact that we were losing here in Pennsylvania, didn’t bat an eye, volunteered to do it and did it happily, and has been a great friend ever since.  So we just love him, Bob Casey.  (Applause.) 

I want to spend most of my time tonight taking questions and having a good conversation, so I’m just going to make a few remarks at the top.  Obviously we’ve gone through as tough an economic time in this country as we have in my lifetime and in most of our lifetimes.  Since the Great Depression, we haven’t seen the combination of a financial crisis and then a recession as severe as the one that we experienced in 2008.

And as a consequence, my administration had to make a series of tough decisions.  A lot of them weren’t popular, but they were the right things to do.  And as a consequence of those decisions, we’ve seen an economy that was shrinking by 6 percent now growing again, and we’ve created over 2 million private sector jobs over the last 15 months.

But as I think everybody here is aware, things are still tough for folks out there.  I get letters, about 10 a night out of the 40,000 communications we get from all across the country, and some of the stories are inspiring, but a lot of them are also heartbreaking, of people losing their homes, people losing their jobs, people trying to figure out if they can save a small business that’s been in the family for years, for generations, but suddenly capital is frozen up; from kids who are worried about their parents losing their home and what it might mean to move. 

And it’s a reminder that as much progress as we’ve made, we’ve got a long, long way to go, and that the challenges that America is facing right now weren’t a year in the making or two years in the making, but are actually 10 years in the making.  And what we’ve seen over the last decade has been a stagnation of income and wages.  Some of that was covered up by a housing boom and bubble and everybody using up the credit card.  But the truth is, is that the underlying economy is going through all kinds of structural changes -- because of global competition, because of automation.  We are in a more competitive world than ever before.

And part of the reason that I ran for President -- the primary reason that I ran for President -- was I want to make sure that America makes the tough decisions that allow us to compete effectively in the 21st century, and we start reversing the squeeze on the middle class and the decline of our economic fundamentals that have been going on for a very long time.

Now, what does that mean?  It means that we’re going to have to improve our education system.  And I know that Mayor Nutter and others have struggled with this for many years.  We are making extraordinary progress thanks to as good of a Secretary of Education as I think we’ve ever seen in Arne Duncan, and we’re starting to hold schools accountable, giving them more resources in exchange for more reform.  But we’ve got a long way to go.  That’s not a project that we can finish in two, two and a half years.

We’ve got to revamp our community colleges and make sure that our young people can afford to go to a four-year college.  And we’ve made progress there, by changing the student loan program so that billions of dollars of subsidies that were going to banks are now going to young people to make college more affordable.  But making sure that we once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world, the goal that I set two years ago, we’re on track, but that’s going to take a few more years. 

We have to have an energy policy in this country.  We still don’t have one, which is why so many people around the country are so vulnerable to changes in the price of oil.  And so what we’ve done through the Recovery Act and through clean energy programs all across the country is making sure that clean energy jobs are created here in the United States and we’re starting to create a more efficient transportation sector so that we can start weaning ourselves off of dependence on foreign oil.

And a lot of people don’t realize that even without legislation last year, we raised fuel-efficiency standards on cars for the first time in 30 years, and we’re going to do it again.  But reversing our energy policy and making it smart in a way that not only saves people’s dollars but also helps save the planet, that’s not a two-year project.  That’s a multiyear project.

We still have not dealt with immigration in a serious way.  And the fact of the matter is, historically we’re a nation of laws and we’re a nation of immigrants.  And I have consistently said that there’s a way of reconciling what I think everybody recognizes is a problem of illegal immigration, but doing so in a way that’s true to our values so that we’re attracting the best and the brightest to stay here and to study here, and that young people understand that they’re welcome as a part of the American family.

We still have work to do when it comes to infrastructure.  We used to have the best roads and the best bridges and the best airports.  And we don’t anymore.  A lot of people here travel, and you go to Beijing airport or Singapore airport, and you look at the trains in Europe or Japan, and you realize that we’ve fallen behind and we’re not making the investments that we should.  And think about all the construction workers who used to be in housing who could be put to work right now doing the work that America needs done, right here in Philadelphia and right here in Pennsylvania and all across the country.

So when it comes to the economy, we’ve got enormous work to do.  And that’s a lot of what this debate in Washington is about right now surrounding the deficit.  Some of you know that I had a press conference yesterday that attracted a little bit of attention, and I’ll probably have to have a few more before we get this issue resolved. 

This is not just a numbers debate.  This is a values debate.  All of us agree that we’ve got to lower our deficit and lower our debt so that we have a sustainable fiscal path.  All of us agree on that.  We actually roughly agree on the numbers.  We need to bring down the deficit by about $4 trillion over a 10- to 12-year window and start bending the cost curve on health care costs.  And the question is, how do we do it?  And what I’ve said is that we can come up with $2 trillion worth of cuts -- cuts to domestic discretionary spending, which includes cuts of some things that I think are worthy and I’d like to do but we can’t afford right now; cuts to defense spending, where we have an obligation to make sure that our troops have the best equipment and we continue to have the finest fighting force in the world, but let’s face it, the Pentagon has waste, too, and we’ve already identified $400 billion worth of waste.  We can identify at least the equivalent to make sure that we’re also maintaining economic security here at home.

But we’re going to have to also, if we want to achieve this goal, make sure that we do two tough things that, frankly, neither party wants to do but have to be done.  The first is we’re going to have to make sure that we continue to focus on how do we reduce Medicare and Medicaid costs, and the second is we’re going to have to have more revenue.  And what I’ve said to the Republican Party and what I’ve said to the Democratic Party in Congress is, there’s a way to do this that makes sure that we still maintain our sacred commitment to our seniors so that they have the security that they need in retirement, and there’s a way to do it that makes sure that businesses aren’t over-burdened and that success is still rewarded in our society.  We can make changes that are balanced, that involve some shared sacrifice, but assure that we’re still making the investments we need to win the future and assure that we’re not mortgaging our future because of irresponsible fiscal practices.

And the question is going to be, do we have a politics that’s up to the task?  This is not a technical problem.  A lot of folks have been talking about, well, we need to bring all the parties together and just sort of hammer it out.  Well, the truth is, is that you could figure out on the back of an envelope how to get this thing done.  The question is one of political will.  And one of the reasons I ran in 2008 was because what I saw was a political system that refused to speak hard truths and then act in terms of what was best for our country as opposed to what’s best for our politics.  And that’s needed now more desperately than ever. 

So part of the reason I think many of you -- as I look around the room, I’ve got some folks who supported me in 2008 for the same reason that I ran -- because you’ve still got confidence in our politics and you’ve still got confidence in the future of this country.  And I guess the point I’d like to make -- and then we’ll just open it up for questions -- is I hope that all of you understand that when we started off on this project back in 2007, it wasn’t going to be done by 2011.  We’ve still got a lot of work to do, and I’m going to need you as bad as I needed you back then.  I have a few more trappings now.  My plane is much nicer than when we ran.  (Laughter.)  And I understand that sometimes generating the same energy is difficult because we’ve now gone through two years of very difficult work.  And my hair is grayer, so I’m not as young and vibrant as I was.  (Laughter.) 

But I hope you understand that the stakes are enormously high.  And, again, as you watch this debt limit and deficit debate unfold, I hope you remember, we can make sure that Medicare is there for future generations and that we are maintaining our commitment to our seniors, and we can make sure that we have a tax code that is simpler and fairer and is not inhibiting business and is not inhibiting the free market.  We can accomplish those things while still bringing down the deficit, but we’ve got to do it in a way that is fair and balanced so that we’re still investing in things like medical research, we’re still investing in our infrastructure, we’re still investing in our kids.

That’s what I think everybody understands and everybody believes.  The only way it’s going to happen is if you’re engaged in this debate.  And if you are, if you stand with me, if you stand with Bob and Debbie and Michael and others who I think are trying to do the right thing, I’m confident we’ll be able to look back at this period as, yes, a period of great challenge, but also a period in which America made extraordinary strides to secure its future for the next generation.

Thank you very much, everybody.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

END
7:45 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady at DNC event in Burlington, Vermont -- Sheraton Burlington

Sheraton Burlington
Burlington, Vermont

4:59 P.M. EDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Well, I’ve got to tell Barack about this welcome here.  I think -- (applause) -- this is pretty special.  Oh, my good -- thank you so much.  It is a pleasure to be here with all of you in beautiful Vermont.  (Applause.)  Oh, it’s a beautiful state!  (Applause.)  Oh, we got to come back.  (Laughter and applause.)
 
Let me first start by thanking Senator Leahy for that very kind introduction, but more importantly for the outstanding service that he is doing for this state, what he’s doing for this country.  (Applause.)  He has just been a tremendous friend, partner to my husband.  He is a gentleman.  He is a family man.  He is a solid individual.  We love him.  Love him to death.  (Applause.)
 
I also want to recognize your amazing governor, Peter Shumlin, for being here -- (applause) -- as well as Congressman Welch, who is here.  Thank you all.  (Applause.)
 
And I want to thank all the other elected officials, so many of you.  It is just a thrill that you’ve taken the time to come out and be with me today.  Thank you for your service to this state.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you, Michelle!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Oh!  (Applause.)  I love you all, too.  Truly, truly.
 
I want to echo Senator Leahy and thank Jane Stetson for her tireless work and her leadership as DNC Finance Chair.  (Applause.)  I get the pleasure of seeing her quite often.  She is gorgeous; she’s on top of it.  She’s doing an amazing job, and she is a true friend, and I’m delighted to be here in her home.  So, yay for Jane.  (Applause.)
 
And finally, I want to thank all of you -- oh, wow -- for being here, for having our backs.
 
I am thrilled to see so many new faces.  But I’m also thrilled to see so many folks who have been with us right from the very beginning, folks who have been through all the ups and downs and the nail-biting moments along the way.  Lots of nail biting going on.  (Laughter.)  And today, as we look ahead to the next part of what has been an amazing journey, I can’t help but think back to how it all began. 
 
And I’ve shared this with so many, but I have to be honest with you, when Barack first started talking about running for President, I wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about the idea.  (Laughter.)  And I hear that some of you were responsible, so I can blame you for this.  (Laughter.)  See, I was proud of the work he was doing in the Senate.  And don't get me wrong, I knew that he would make an amazing President.  I knew that.  But like a lot of folks -- (applause) -- yes -- (applause) -- so that was never in doubt.  (Applause.)
 
But what was going on in my head and my heart was that I was still a bit cynical about politics, like so many.  And with two young daughters at home, I was apprehensive about the toll that a presidential campaign could take on our family. 
 
So it took some convincing on the part of my husband.  And by “some” –- I mean a lot.  (Laughter.)  A lot.  I say he still owes me.  (Laughter and applause.)  But even as I hit the campaign trail, I was still a little uneasy about the whole “President thing.”  That's what Malia would call it.  (Laughter.)  “Are we doing that President thing?”  (Laughter.)   

But I have to tell you something; that there was something that happened during those first few months on the campaign trail that changed all that, just washed away the cynicism.
 
See, when I started campaigning in places like Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina, it wasn’t just about handshakes and stump speeches.  It was about conversations that you could have with people on their front porches, in living rooms, where people would just welcome you in.  People who didn’t know anything about you would welcome you into their homes and into their lives.
 
I remember one of my very first events -- not the first, but among the first that I did in Iowa -- it was a gathering in the backyard of this beautiful home; a beautiful backyard, lots of grass; sunny day.  And within a few minutes -- and I hadn’t been there before, had barely been in the state -- I was so comfortable that I remember kicking off my shoes -- (laughter) -- and standing in the grass barefoot just talking to folks. 
 
And that’s what campaigning was about for me.  It was about meeting people one-on-one and hearing what was going on in their lives, learning about the businesses that folks were trying to keep afloat; about the home that someone loved, but could no longer afford; the spouse who came back from the war and still needed a lot of help; learning about the child who was so smart, who could be anything she wanted if her parents could just find a way to pay that tuition.  And these stories moved me.  And even more than that, these stories were familiar to me, because they were my stories.
 
In the parents working that extra shift, or taking that extra job, I saw Barack’s mother, a young single mom struggling to support Barack and his sister. 
 
I saw my father, who dragged himself to work at the city water plant every day, because even as he got weaker from M.S., my father was determined to be our family’s provider.  It was important to him. 
 
In the grandparents coming out of retirement to pitch in and help make ends meet, I saw my own mother who has helped us raise our girls from the day they were born.  And that has meant the world to us.  (Applause.)
 
I saw Barack’s grandmother who caught that bus to work before dawn every day to help be the primary provider for their family. 
 
In the children I met who were worried about a mom who’s lost her job, or a dad deployed faraway, of course those kids so full of promise and dreams -- I couldn’t help but see my own daughters, who are the center of my world. 
 
And see, the beauty of these folks in these stories, they weren’t asking for much.  They were looking for some basic things –- like being able to see a doctor when you’re sick.  Things like having decent public schools and a chance to send kids to college even if you’re not rich.  Things like making a decent wage, and having a secure retirement, and maybe leaving something better for your kids. 
 
And while we may have all grown up in different places and seemed different in some ways, again, their stories were my family’s stories.  Their stories were Barack’s family’s stories.  And the values -– things like you treat people how you want to be treated; you put your family first always -- (applause); young people, you work hard at everything you do; you do what you say you’re going to do –- all those values were values that our families passed down to us. 
 
And then suddenly, everything Barack had been saying about how we’re all interconnected and about how we’re not just red states and blue states -- those were no longer just lines from a speech.  It was what I was actually seeing with my own eyes.  And that changed me. 
 
And you know what else changed me?  You all changed me.  During those months on the campaign trail, you changed me.  When I got tired, I would think about all you folks out there making calls and little kids knocking on doors in the freezing cold.  I know you remember that.  (Laughter.)  And that would get me energized.  When I got discouraged, I would think about all the folks opening up their wallets even when they didn’t have much to give.  I would think about folks who had the courage to let themselves believe again and hope again.  And that would give me hope.
 
And the simple truth is that today, four years later, we’re here because of you.  And I’m not just talking about winning an election.  I’m talking about what we’ve been doing every day in the White House since then to keep fighting for the folks we met and the values we share.  I’m talking about what Barack has been doing to help win the future for all of us.  (Applause.)
 
And at a time when we still have so many challenges and so much work to do, it is easy to forget about what we’ve done along the way.  So let’s take a step back and think about these past couple of years:
 
We have gone from an economy on the brink of collapse to an economy that is starting to grow again. 
 
We are helping middle-class families by cutting their taxes, and working to stop credit card companies from taking advantage of those folks.  (Applause.) 
 
We’re going to give working moms and dads a childcare tax credit because we know that those costs add up for the better for these families.  (Applause.)
 
And we are helping women get equal pay for equal work with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay act.  (Applause.)  That was the first bill my husband signed, the very first bill he signed into law as President of the United States.
 
Because of health reform, millions of folks will finally be able to afford a doctor.  Their insurance companies won’t be able to drop their coverage when they get sick, or charge them through the roof because their child has a pre-existing condition.  No more.  (Applause.)  And now they have to cover preventative care -– things like prenatal care and mammograms that save money and save lives.  That's what we’re doing today.  (Applause.)
 
And because we do not want to have our kids take on a mountain of debt, we’re reducing our deficit by doing what families across America have been doing already, and that's cutting back so that we can start living within our means, but still investing in things that really matter -- things like clean energy, so that we can do something about these gas prices -- (applause) -- and scientific research, including stem cell research that is critical to so many families.  (Applause.)
 
We’re also investing in community colleges, which, as so many of you know, are the gateway to opportunity for so many folks -- (applause) -- and Pell Grants, Pell Grants, which help so many young people afford their tuition.  (Applause.)  
 
And education.  Through a competition called Race to the Top, we’ve got 40 states now working to raise the standards and reform their schools. 
 
And we’re working to live up to our founding values of freedom and equality.  And today, because we ended Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, our troops will never again have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love.  (Applause.) 
 
And you may also recall that my husband appointed two brilliant Supreme Court Justices -- (applause) -- which meant that for the first time in history, our daughters –- and our sons –- watched three women take their seats on our nation’s highest court.  (Applause.)  Pretty amazing.  (Applause.)
 
We’re keeping our country safe and restoring our standing in the world.  We’ve ended our combat mission in Iraq and have already brought home 100,000 men and women in uniform who have served this country bravely.  And in the coming weeks, my husband is beginning drawing down our troops in Afghanistan, as well.  (Applause.)  And today, let us not forget that today, thanks to the tireless work of our intelligence and counter-terrorism communities and the heroic efforts of our troops, the man behind the 9/11 attacks and so many other horrific acts of terror has finally been brought to justice.  That happened under this President.  (Applause.)
 
So, as my husband said, these long wars are coming to a responsible end, and it is time for us to focus on nation-building here at home.  (Applause.)
 
And we’re also tackling two issues that are near and dear to my heart, not just as First Lady but as a mom.  And the first is childhood obesity.  (Applause.)  This issue doesn’t just affect our kids’ health and how they feel.  It affects how they feel about themselves and whether they will have the energy and the stamina to succeed in school and in life.  So we’re working hard to get better food into our schools and our communities and to get better information into the hands of parents so that they can make good choices for their kids.  (Applause.)
 
The second issue and one of the other reasons why I’m here in Vermont is that I came to this issue while I was on the campaign trail, meeting so many extraordinary military families.  I mean, these folks will take your breath away.  They are raising their kids and running their households all alone while their spouses are deployed for very long periods of time, and they do it with such tremendous courage and strength and pride.  That is why Jill and I launched a campaign to rally our country to serve these families as well as they have served us.  (Applause.)
 
And finally, just a few days ago, I had the privilege of traveling to Africa and continuing our efforts to engage and inspire young people across the globe.  And I went there with a simple message that when it comes to the challenges we face, whether it’s climate change or poverty, terrorism or disease, we are going to look to our young people to lead the way.  And I reminded these young people that everyone has the power to make a difference.  Even in the smallest acts in their own families and their own communities, these acts can inspire nations.  And that can create the kind of ripple effect that is transformative.  That message is not just true abroad.  It is true right here at home.  So.  (Applause.)
 
I think that it is fair to say that we have made some significant change these last couple of months.  (Applause.)   And more importantly we should be proud of what we’ve accomplished.  But we should never be satisfied, not when there's still so much work to do.  I mean, we know that too many of our kids still don’t have a fraction of what they need to succeed.  We know that too many families are struggling to just pay their bills. 
 
I mean, the truth is, is that all those folks that we campaigned for, and won for, and that we’ve been fighting for these past two and a half years –- those folks still need our help.  And that, more than anything, is what drives my husband as President of the United States.
 
That is what I see when he returns home from the office or a long trip and he tells me about the people that he’s met.  And I see those quiet moments late at night, and after the girls have gone to bed, and he’s reading the letters that people have sent him.  Like the letter from the woman dying of cancer whose health insurance wouldn’t cover her care.  The letter from the young person with so much promise but still with so few opportunities. 
 
See, and these are the things that worry him.  This is where the creases and the gray hair -- that's where it comes from.  (Laughter.)  I hear the passion and the determination in his voice.  He says -- he said this the other day -- “You won’t believe what folks are still going through.”  Says, “Michelle, this is not right.  And we’ve got to fix this.  We have to do more.”  (Applause.)
 
See, the beauty of my husband is that when it comes to the people he meets, Barack has a memory like a steel trap.  Now, he might not remember everyone’s 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 day –- that collection of hopes, and dreams, and struggles.  That’s where Barack Obama gets his passion.  And that’s why he works so very hard every day, starting first thing in the morning, going late into the night, hunched over briefing books, reading every single word, making notes, making sure he is more briefed and prepared than the folks briefing him and preparing him -- (laughter) -- because all those wins and losses are not wins and losses for him.  They are wins and losses for the folks whose stories he carries with him, the folks he worries about and prays about before he goes to bed every night. 
    
See, in the end, Barack, for him and for me and for all of you, that is what politics is about.  (Applause.)  It’s not about one person, it’s not about one President.  It’s about how we work together to make real changes that make a real difference in people’s lives.  Like the young person attending college today because she can finally afford it.  That is happening.  Like the mom or the dad who can take their child to the doctor because of health reform.  That's real change.  The folks who are working on the line today at places like GM, and bringing home a good paycheck for their families.  That is a reality.
 
And now, more than ever, we need your help to finish what we’ve started.  We need all of you to be with us for this next phase of the journey.  And I’m not going to kid you, it is going to be long.  It is going to be hard.  And it will be plenty of twists and turns along the way, dramatic pauses -- (laughter) -- and moments of anxiety.
 
But here’s the thing about Barack –- and this is something that I’d appreciate even if he hadn’t shown the good judgment to marry me -- (laughter and applause) -- that even in the toughest moments, when it seems like all is lost, 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. 
 
And in those moments when we’re all sweating it -- and I’ve done this to him -- when we’re all worried about the bill that won’t pass -- “It won’t pass” -- (laughter) -- negotiations -- “Well, what are you doing?!” -- (laughter) -- Barack always reminds me -- is, “Just, chill out.”  (Laughter.)  He reminds me that we are playing a long game here.  It’s about looking way down there.  He reminds me that change is slow; reminds me that change doesn’t happen all at once. 
 
But he always says this:  If we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, and doing what we know is right, then eventually we will get there because he says we always have.  And he’s right.  We always have. 
 
And that’s what he needs from all of you.  He needs you to be in this with him for the long haul.  He needs you to hold fast to our vision and our values and our dreams for our kids and for our country.  (Applause.)  He needs you to work like you’ve never worked before. 
 
And that’s what I plan on doing.  I will work so hard.  And I won’t be doing it just as a wife or as First Lady.  Trust me, I am doing this as a mother who wants to leave a phenomenal legacy for my children.  And more than that, I will be doing it as a citizen who knows what we can do together to change this country for the better -- (applause) -- because the truth is that no matter what happens, we’re blessed; my girls will be okay.  My girls will have plenty of advantages and opportunities in their lives.  And that’s probably true for many of your kids as well. 
 
But I think that the last four 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 he or she is not our child.  (Applause.)  If any family in this country struggles, then we can’t be fully content with our own family’s good fortune, because that’s not what we do in America.  That's not who we are.  (Applause.)  
 
In the end, we know that we cannot separate our stories from the broader American story.  Like it or not, we are all in this together -- and that's how it should be.  And I know that if we put our hearts and our souls into this, if we do what we need to do during the next year and a half, then we can continue to make the kind of change that we believe in.  I know that we can build that country that we want for our kids.  I know that we can.
 
So I’m going to ask you one last question, Vermont.  Are you in?  (Applause.)  Wait, wait, are you in?  (Applause.)  Oh, because I am in.  I’m in!  (Applause.)  I am in!  I am fired up.  I hope you all are fired up.  I hope that you are ready to go.  And I look forward to working with you all in the months and years to come.  Thank you for your prayers.  Thank you for your work.  Let’s keep on moving.
 
Thank you so much.  (Applause.)
 
END
5:25 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the President at DNC Event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Hyatt at the Bellevue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

5:25 P.M. EDT

        THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Philly!  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you, Philadelphia!  (Applause.)  It is good to be back -- (applause) -- good to be back in the great state of Pennsylvania. (Applause.)  Congratulations, Phillies fans.  (Applause.)  That is quite a rotation.  

        There are a couple of people I want to acknowledge.  First of all, you just heard from somebody who I consider just a dear, dear friend.  This is a guy who stood with me when nobody was sure whether I was going to win or not.  And he didn’t have to do it, but he was just a terrific, terrific supporter, a great friend.  He is a great senator.  Please give it up for Bob Casey. (Applause.)

        Two other outstanding members of your congressional delegation who have been with me and supportive of everything we've been trying to do -- I could not be prouder of the work they do on behalf of their constituents -- Congressman Brady and Congressman Fattah are here.  (Applause.)  Thank you.

        Your outstanding mayor, Mayor Nutter is in the house.  (Applause.)  And one of the great legislators in Congress who also happens to be a pretty good political mind, and that is why we are so proud to have her as the chairwoman of the DNC -- Debbie Wasserman Schultz.  Please give her a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

        Now, I see a lot of new faces out here.  And then I see a few faces I've known for a long time.  (Applause.)  Some of you who are here knew me before I had gray hair.  (Laughter.)  

        AUDIENCE MEMBER:  You're looking good, though!  (Applause.)

        THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you.  (Laughter.)  Malia and Sasha say that it makes me look distinguished.  (Laughter.)  Michelle says it just makes me look old.  (Laughter.)  No, she loves me, but she just says it makes me look old.  (Laughter.)  

        Now, being here with all of you, I can't help but think back to the election two and a half years ago, and that night in Grant Park.  It was the culmination of an extraordinary campaign that drew on the hard work and the support of people all across America.  Men and women -- and some children -- I did very well with the eight and under demographic.  (Laughter.)  Men and women who believed that change was possible, who believed that we didn’t have to accept politics as usual, who believed that we could have a country that once again lived up to its finest ideals and its highest aspirations.  And it was a beautiful night.  Everybody was feeling pretty good.

        But what I said that night -- some of you remember this -- I said this is not the end; this is just the beginning; that the road we were on was going to be difficult, that the climb was going to be steep.  We didn’t know how steep it was going to be. We didn’t realize the magnitude of the recession we were facing and the financial crisis.  We didn’t realize we had already lost 4 million jobs by the time I was sworn in.  But we knew it was going to be tough.  

        And that was okay -- because I did not run for President to do easy things.  I ran for President to do hard things.  (Applause.)  I ran for President because it was time to do big things.  (Applause.)  That we couldn’t keep kicking the can down the road anymore, too much was at stake, and that we had to get started tackling the tough issues that families face each and every day.  Even if it would take time -- (audience disruption.)

        THE PRESIDENT:  So -- listen --

        AUDIENCE:  We love you!

        THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, guys.  (Applause.)  Now, let me tell you why I thought it was so important to run -- even though Michelle, she wasn’t so sure.  (Laughter.)  And why you guys got involved.  I just want everybody to remember.  We ran because we believed in an economy that didn’t just work for those at the top, but worked for everybody -- where prosperity was shared, from the machinist on the line, to the manager on the floor, to the CEO in the boardroom.  

        We ran because we believed our success isn’t just determined by stock prices and corporate profits, but by whether ordinary folks can find a good job that pays for a middle-class life -- where they can pay the mortgage, and take care of their kids, and send their kids to college, and save for retirement, and maybe have a little left over to go to a movie and go to dinner once in a while.  (Laughter and applause.)  

        We ran because for a decade, wages and incomes had flatlined, and costs kept on going up for everybody even though they didn’t have any more income.  That was before the economic crisis hit.  And obviously once the economic crisis did hit, we had to take a series of emergency steps to save this economy from collapse -- not because we wanted to help banks or make sure that the auto companies’ CEOs were making good bonuses, but we did it because we wanted to make sure that families who needed help could still take out a loan to buy a house or start a new business.  We wanted to make sure that the millions of people who depended on the auto industry, that they would still have jobs.  

        And so some of those decisions were tough.  And you remember, we got criticized a lot.  But you take a look at what’s happened.  Some folks didn’t want us getting involved in the auto industry -- I didn’t expect to be the CEO of a car company when I ran for President.  (Laughter.)  But as a consequence of what we did, we saved jobs.  We saved American manufacturing.  (Applause.)  We cut taxes for middle-class families.  We ended subsidies to the banks for student loans, to make college more affordable.  (Applause.)  We made sure -- that’s why I signed a bill to make sure there was equal pay for equal work, because I’ve got two daughters and I want to make sure they’re treated just the same as the boys are.  (Applause.)  That’s why we’re promoting manufacturing and homegrown American energy -- because that’s what will lead to jobs that pay a decent salary.  I want the wind turbines and the solar panels and the electric cars to be built right here in America.  (Applause.)

        That’s why, with the help of these outstanding members of Congress, we’re standing up a new consumer bureau with just one responsibility:  looking out for ordinary people in the financial system so folks aren’t cheated.  Whether you’re getting a credit card or getting a mortgage, you need to know that you’re getting a fair deal.  (Applause.)

        And that’s why we passed health reform, so that nobody in the richest nation on Earth goes bankrupt when they get sick.  (Applause.)  

        We also had a long campaign in 2008 because we believed it was time to end the war in Iraq.  And that’s what we’re doing.  We’ve removed 100,000 troops from Iraq.  We’ve ended combat missions.  We are on track to remove the rest of the troops, bring them home by the end of this year.  (Applause.)  

        I ran for President because I believed we needed to refocus our efforts and our energy in Afghanistan and going after al Qaeda.  And we are going after al Qaeda and we’ve taken out their leadership.  (Applause.)  And because of our progress and the extraordinary sacrifices of our troops, we are fulfilling the commitment I made at the start to reduce our troops, starting this month, so that Afghans can start taking responsibility for their own security -- (applause) -- and we can start rebuilding right here at home.  (Applause.)  It's time to start rebuilding here at home -- time for nation-building right here.

        We live in a world where America is facing stiff competition for good jobs from rapidly growing nations, like China and India and Brazil.  For a long time we were told the best way to win that competition is just to undermine consumer protections and undermine clean air laws and clean water laws and hand out tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires.  That was the idea that held sway for close to a decade.  And let's face it, it didn’t work out very well.  

        In fact, if you look at our history, you'll see that philosophy has never worked out very well -- where people are just asking, "What's in it for me?"  America was built on the hard work and ingenuity of our people and our businesses.  But we also set up a free system of public schools and a generation was sent to college on the G.I. Bill.  (Applause.)  And we constructed roads and highways that spanned a continent.  And through investments and research and technology, we sent a man to the moon.  And we discovered lifesaving medicine.  And we launched the information age and created the Internet and created millions of jobs along the way.  (Applause.)  That's how you build a strong nation.  That's how you build a strong middle class -- by making the investments that are needed and always looking out over the horizon.  (Applause.)

        So we believe in business and we believe in free markets.  But we also believe in making sure that every kid in this country has a chance.  (Applause.)  And we believe that our seniors deserve to retire with dignity and respect and have some semblance of security.  (Applause.)  And we believe in making investments in science and technology.  (Applause.)  And we believe in having the best infrastructure in the world.  And so the same things that worked for us in the past, that's what we need to be doing today.

        There's an important debate in Washington right now about how to cut the deficit.  And let me say it is absolutely critical that we get a handle on our finances.  We've spent a lot of money that we don't have.  And we've made a lot of commitments that are going to be hard to keep if we do nothing.  And like families all across America, government has to live within its means.  

        So I'm prepared to bring our deficit down by trillions of dollars.  That's with a "t" -- trillions.  (Laughter.)  But I will not reduce our deficit by sacrificing our kids' education. (Applause.)  I'm not going to reduce our deficit by eliminating medical research being done by our scientists.  (Applause.)  I won't sacrifice rebuilding our roads and our bridges and our railways and our airports -- I want Philadelphia to have the best, not the worst.      

        Not just roads and bridges and sewer mains and water systems; I want us to have the best broadband -- (applause) -- the best electric grid.  I’m not going to sacrifice clean energy at a time when our dependence on foreign oil is causing so many Americans pain at the pump.  (Applause.)  That’s sacrificing America’s future.

        And that’s what I want to say to all of you, Philadelphia.  There’s more than one way to mortgage our future.  It would be irresponsible, we would be mortgaging our future, if we don’t do anything about the deficit.  But we will also be mortgaging our future and it will be irresponsible if, in the process of reducing our deficit, we sacrifice those very things that allow us to grow and create jobs and succeed and compete in the future.

        What makes America great is not just the height of our skyscrapers or the might of our military or the size of our GDP. What makes us great is the character of our people.  (Applause.) And we are rugged individualists -- that’s part of what makes us American; we like to make up our own minds and we don’t like other people to tell us what to do.  But what also makes us who we are is our faith in the future and our recognition that our future is shared.  

        It’s the belief I am my brother’s keeper and my sister’s keeper; that my life is richer and our country is stronger when everybody participates and everybody has a measure of security and everybody has got a fair shot at the American Dream.  (Applause.)  That’s our vision for America.  Not a vision of a small America, but a vision of a big America and a compassionate America and an optimistic America, and a bold America.  And that’s what we’re fighting for.  (Applause.)  

        And the good news is that America is possible -- an America where we’re living within our means, but we’re still investing in the future.  That’s possible.  Where everybody is making sacrifices, but nobody bears all the burden by themselves.  The idea that no matter what we look like or who we are, no matter whether our ancestors came from Ellis Island or on a slave ship, or across the Rio Grande, that we are all connected to one another, and that we rise and fall together.  (Applause.)  

        That’s the idea at the heart of America.  That’s the idea at the heart of our last campaign.  That’s the idea at the heart of this campaign.  That’s why I’m going to need your help more than ever.  (Applause.)

        This campaign is at its early stages.  I’ve got a day job.  I’ve got other things to do.  (Laughter.)  But while I’m working, there are going to be candidates parading around the country.  (Laughter and applause.)  And they’re going to do what they do, which is they’re going to attack -- here in Philadelphia, they’re going to attack.  They won’t have a plan -- (laughter) -- but they will attack.  And I understand that; that’s politics as we’ve come to know it.

        But what I also understand is, is the American people are a lot less interested in us attacking each other; they’re more interested in us attacking the country’s problems.  (Applause.)  They’re less interested in hearing us exchange insults about the past; they want us to exchange ideas about the future.  (Applause.)  That’s the contest I’m looking forward to, because I know that’s the contest that America needs.  And by the way, that’s the contest that we will win.  (Applause.)

        And, Philadelphia, I know there are some of you who are frustrated because we haven’t gotten everything done that we said we were going to do in two and a half years.  It’s only been two and a half years.  I got five and a half years more to go.  (Applause.)  And there are -- look, there are times where I feel frustrated.  But we knew this wasn’t going to be easy.  We knew a journey like this one, there were going to be setbacks, like there were setbacks during the first campaign.  There are going to be times where we stumble, just we stumbled sometimes during the first campaign.

        But we also knew that at each and every juncture in our history when our future was on the line -- (audience interruption.)

        AUDIENCE:  Obama!  Obama!  Obama!  Obama!  Obama!  (Applause.)  

        THE PRESIDENT:  What we also knew was that whenever the country has been at a crossroads, we’ve always come together to keep the American Dream alive for the next generation.  And now is the time for us to do it again.  Now is the time to finish what we started and keep the dream alive.  

        And I just to want to remind everybody here, this campaign is not about me.  It’s about us.  (Applause.)  It’s about students who are working their way through college, workers heading to factories to build American cars again, small business owners testing new ideas, construction crews laying down roads, families who faced hardship and setbacks but who haven’t stopped believing in this country, and who believe that we can emerge from this challenge stronger than before.  

        That’s the story of progress in America -- the stubborn refusal to accept anything less than the best that this country can be.  And with your help, if you’re willing to keep fighting with me, if you’re willing to knock on doors with me, if you are going to get as much energy going as you got in 2008, then together we are going to write another chapter in that story and leave a new generation a brighter future.

        God bless you, Philadelphia.  God bless you, Pennsylvania.  Yes, we can.  May God bless you, and God bless America.  (Applause.)  

END 5:46 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady at DNC event in Boston, Massachusetts

Private Residence, Boston, Massachusetts

1:22 P.M. EDT

     MRS. OBAMA:  I won’t be using the box.  (Laughter.)  Oh, my goodness, thank you so much.  Oh, okay, let’s just go home now.  (Laughter.) 

     I can’t tell you what a pleasure it is to be here with all of you today.  And I want to thank Elaine for that very kind introduction, and to Elaine and Jerry and their entire family for hosting this event here in their beautiful home.  I can’t tell you how much this means to us to have your support.  You are true public servants, as well.  You live it out every day.  You live it out throughout the generations.  And it is that foundation that allows Barack and I to do the work that we do.  So we are so truly, truly grateful to you for your work and your dedication, your support.  So thank you again.  (Applause.)

     I also want to thank your fabulous governor, who is one of my favorite people in the whole wide world.  Yeah, yeah, he is.  (Applause.)  Governor Patrick.  And the only other person I like more than you is Diane.  (Laughter.)  It’s okay.  I know how that goes.  (Laughter and applause.)

     And also to all the other elected officials here -- Elaine acknowledged everyone -- I got to meet and say hello to each of you -- thank you for your leadership and your service.

     And finally, I want to thank all of you for being here today.  I love when I get to take pictures and actually talk to everybody before I actually talk, because I feel like I know you all already in our little conversations and hugs. 

     I am thrilled to see so many new faces in the crowd.  But I’m also thrilled to see so many folks who’ve been with us right from the beginning, as well, folks who’ve been through all the ups and downs and the nail-biting moments along the way, because there were many.  And today, as we look ahead to the next part of the journey, I’m thinking back to how it all began.

     I have to be honest that when Barack first started talking about running for President, I wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about the idea.  I was proud of the work that he was doing in the Senate.  And I thought that he would make a phenomenal President.  That wasn’t the issue.  But like a lot of folks, I still had some cynicism about politics.  And with two young daughters at home, I was worried about the toll that a presidential campaign would take on our family. 

     So it took some convincing on Barack’s part.  And by “some” –- I mean a lot.  (Laughter.)  He’s still paying back.  (Laughter.)  And even as I hit the trail back then, I was still a little uneasy about this whole “Presidents thing.”  That's what Malia would call it -- we’re doing the “President thing.”  We’re still doing that.  (Laughter.) 

     But something happened during those first few months on the campaign trail that changed me. 

     See, for me, campaigning in places like Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina, it wasn’t just about handshakes and stump speeches.  It was about conversations that we were having on front porches and in the living rooms of folks where people would just welcome you into their homes, not knowing anything about you welcoming you into their homes and into their lives.

     And I remember one of my first events in Iowa was in a gathering in a backyard, a day like today -- a beautiful, grassy, long backyard.  And it was the first time I was in that home, probably one of the first few times I was in Iowa.  But within a few minutes, I was so comfortable there that I kicked my shoes off, and I was standing barefoot in the grass, just talking to folks. 

     And that’s what campaigning was about for me.  That's what it still is for me.  It’s about meeting people one-on-one, hearing what’s going on in their lives.  I learned about the businesses that folks were trying to keep afloat; the home they loved, but could no longer afford; the spouse who came back from war, and needed so much more help; the child who was so smart, who could be anything in the world she wanted, if only her parents could afford that tuition.  And those stories moved me.  And even more important, those stories were extremely familiar to me.

     You see, in the parents working that extra shift, the parents taking that extra job, I saw Barack’s mother, a young single mom trying to raise Barack and his sister. 

     I saw my father, who dragged himself to work at the city water plant every morning, because even as his M.S. made him weaker and weaker, he was still determined to be our family’s provider. 

     In the grandparents coming out of retirement to pitch in and help make ends meet, of course I saw my own mother who has helped raise my girls since the day they were born.

     I saw Barack’s grandmother who caught a bus to work before dawn every day to provide for her family.  She was the sole primary provider.  

     In the children I met who were worried about a mom who’s lost her job, or a dad deployed faraway from home, kids so full of promise and dreams, of course I saw my own daughters, who are the center of my world. 

     See, and the thing is that these folks weren’t asking for much.  They were looking for basic things –- like being able to see a doctor when you’re sick.  Things like having decent public schools and a chance to go to college even if you’re not rich.  Things like making a decent wage, and having a secure retirement, maybe leaving something better for your kids. 

     And while we may have grown up in different places and seemed different in many ways, their stories were my family’s stories.  They were Barack’s family’s stories.  Their values they taught one another -– things like you treat people how you want to be treated, you put your family first no matter what, you work hard at every single thing you do, you do what you say you’re going to do –- I mean, those were our family’s values. 

     And then suddenly, everything that Barack had been saying about how we were all interconnected -- about how we’re not just red states or blue states -- see, those weren’t just lines from a speech.  It was what I was starting to see with my own eyes.  And that changed me. 

     And you know something else that changed me during all those months out on the campaign trail?  You all changed me.  See, when I got tired, and I did, I would think about folks out there making calls and knocking on doors day after day.  Remember that?  Some of you were doing that.  Never thought you’d be on the phone, down some strange street.  (Laughter.) 
     But that would energize me.  When I got discouraged, I would think of folks opening their wallets, even when they didn’t have much to give.  I would think of folks who had the courage to let themselves believe again and hope again.  And that would give me hope.

     And the simple truth is that today, four years later, we are here because of all of you.  And I’m not just talking about winning an election.  I’m talking about what we’ve been doing every day in the White House since that time to keep fighting for the folks we met and the values we share.  I’m talking about what Barack has been doing to help us all win the future.

     And at a time when we still have so many challenges and so much work to do, it is easy to forget about what we’ve done along the way. 

     But let’s just step back a moment and just think about just some of the accomplishments over these past couple of years:

     As Elaine said, we’ve gone from an economy on the brink of collapse to an economy that’s starting to grow again. 

     We’re helping middle-class families by cutting their taxes, and working to stop credit card companies from taking advantage of people.

     We’re going to give working moms and dads a childcare tax credit because we know how these costs add up for those families.

     And we’re helping women get equal pay for equal work.  The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, that was the first bill, the very first bill, my husband signed into law as President of the United States.  (Applause.)

     And because of health reform, millions of folks will finally be able to afford a doctor.  Their insurance companies won’t be able to drop their coverage when they get sick, or charge them through the roof because their child has a pre-existing condition.  They now have to cover preventative care -– simple things like prenatal care, mammograms, things that save money but more importantly save lives.

     And because we don’t want to leave our children and grandchildren a mountain of debt, we’re reducing our deficit by doing what families all across this country are already doing.  We’re cutting back so that we can start living within our means.

     And we’re investing in things, as well, important things like clean energy, so that we can do something about high gas prices, and scientific research, including important things like stem cell research.

     We’re also investing in community colleges, which, as we all know, are a gateway to opportunity for so many folks, and Pell Grants, which help so many young people afford that tuition. 

     And through a competition called Race to the Top, we’ve got 40 states working to raise standards and reform schools all across the country. 

     We’re working to live up to our founding values of freedom and equality.  And today, because this administration ended Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, our troops will never again have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love.  So.  (Applause.)

     And you may also recall that my husband appointed two brilliant Supreme Court Justices -- (applause) -- and for the first time in history, our daughters –- and our sons –- watched three women take their seats on our nation’s highest court.  Awesome.  (Applause.)

     We’re also working to keep our country safe and restore our standing in the world.  This administration ended our combat mission in Iraq and has already brought home 100,000 men and women in uniform who have served this country so bravely.  And in the coming weeks, he’ll begin drawing down our troops in Afghanistan as well.  And today, thanks to the tireless work of our intelligence and counter-terrorism communities and the heroic efforts of our troops, the man behind 9/11 attacks and so many other horrific attacks has finally been brought to justice.  (Applause.)

     So, as my husband said, these long wars are coming to a responsible end, and it’s time for us to focus on nation-building here at home.

     We’re also tackling two issues very near and dear to my heart, both as First Lady and as a mom.  The first is childhood obesity.  And as so many of you know, this issue doesn’t just affect our kids’ health and how they feel.  It affects how they feel about themselves and whether they will even have the energy and the stamina to succeed in school and in life.  So we’re working hard to get better food into our schools and into communities and to help parents make better decisions for themselves and for their kids. 

     The second issue is one that I came to on the campaign trail, meeting so many extraordinary military families.  And these are folks who were raising their kids and running their households all alone for months and years on end while their husbands, their spouses were deployed, and they do it with tremendous courage and strength and pride.  And that’s why Jill and I launched a nationwide campaign to rally our country to serve these families as well as they have served us.  (Applause.)   

     And finally, just last week, I had the privilege of traveling to Africa and continuing our effort to engage and inspire young people across the globe.  I came with a simple message that when it comes to the challenges that we face as a world, whether it’s climate change or poverty, terrorism or disease, we are looking to our young people to lead the way.  And I reminded them that everyone has the power to make a difference, even with the smallest of acts in their own families and communities; that those acts can inspire others, and that can create the kind of ripple effect that can transform nations. 

     So I think that it is fair to say that we have made a lot of progress, significant change, in these last couple of years.  (Applause.)  And more importantly, we should be proud of what we’ve accomplished together. 

     But we should never be satisfied, because we know that we still have a lot of work to do.  We know that too many of our kids still don’t have what they need to succeed.  We know that.  We know that too many folks are still struggling just to pay their bills. 

     I mean, the truth is, is that all those folks that we campaigned for, and we won for, and that we’ve been fighting for these past two and a half years –- those folks still need our help.  And that, more than anything, is what drives my husband as President of the United States.   

     That’s what I see when he returns home after a long day traveling around the country, and from the Oval, and he tells me about the people that he’s met.  And I see it in those quiet moments late at night, after the girls have gone to bed, and when he’s at his desk reading the letters that people have sent him.  The letter from the woman dying of cancer whose health insurance wouldn’t cover her care.  Or the person, so young, with so much promise, but still with so few opportunities. 

     And I see the worry creasing his face.  I hear the passion and determination in his voice.  “You won’t believe what these folks are going through.”  He told me that last night.  “Michelle, it is not right.  We’ve got to fix this.  We have to do more.”

     See, the thing that I try to share with people about my husband is that when it comes to the people he meets, Barack has a memory like a steel trap; that he might not always 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 day -– that collection of hopes, and dreams, and struggles.  That is what gives Barack Obama his passion.  That’s why he works so hard every day, starting first thing in the morning, going late into the night, hunched over those briefing books, reading every single word, making notes and writing questions, determined to be more prepared than anybody out there, because all of those wins and losses are not wins and losses for him.  They’re wins and losses for the folks whose stories he carries with him, the folks he worries about and prays about before he goes to bed at night. 

     And in the end, for Barack, and for me, and I know for so many of you, that is what politics is about.  It’s not about one President; never has been.  It’s not about one person.  It’s about how we work together to make real changes that make a real difference in people’s lives.  Like the young person attending college today because she can finally afford it.  That is happening.  The mom or dad who can today take their child to a doctor because of health reform.  That is happening.  The folks who are working on the line today at places like GM, and bringing home good paychecks for their families.  That is happening today. 

     And now, more than ever before, we need your help to finish what we’ve started.  We need all of you to be with us for the next phase of this incredible journey.  And I am not going to kid you, it is going to be long.  It is going to be hard.  And it will have plenty of twists and turns along the way.

     But here is the one thing about Barack –- and this is something I’d appreciate even if he hadn’t shown the good judgment to marry me -- (laughter) -- that even in the toughest moments, when it seems like all is lost, 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.  And in those moments when we’re all sweating it, because we have.  I have.  I’ve nagged him.  “What are you doing”  (Laughter.)  “What's going to happen to that bill?  Negotiations -- what's going on?  What are you doing?”  (Laughter.)  I’ve done it. 

     Barack always reminds me that we are playing a long game.  He reminds me, as I said to you, too, that change is slow.  He reminds me that change doesn’t happen all at once, but that if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, doing what we know is right, then eventually we will get there, because the truth is we always have in this country.  We always have.

     And that’s what he needs from all of you, he needs you to be in this with him for the long haul.  He needs you to hold fast to our vision and our values and our dreams for our kids and for our country.  He needs you to work like you’ve worked before, but even more so.  Hard.  Really hard.  (Laughter.) 

     And that’s what I plan on doing.  I’m not going to ask you to do something that I wouldn’t do.  And I won’t be doing it as his wife or as the First Lady.  I’ll be doing it as a mother, who wants to leave a legacy for my children.  And more than that, I’ll be doing it as a citizen who knows what we can do together to change this country for the better, because the truth is that no matter what happens, my girls will be okay.  My girls will have plenty of advantages and opportunities in their lives.  And that’s probably true for many of your kids as well. 

     But I think that the last four 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, and 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, because that is not what we do in this country. 

     In the end, we cannot separate our own story from the broader American story.  Like it or not, we’re all in this together.  And that's as it should be.  And I know that if we put our hearts and our souls into this, if we do what we need to do during the next year and a half, then we can continue to make the change that we believe in.  And I know that we can build our country for the better for our kids.

     So I have one last question, and that is, are you all in this?  (Applause.)  I mean, are you ready for this?  Because I’m in.  (Applause.)  I am fired up and I am ready to go.  (Applause.)  And I hope you all are, too, because we are going to need energy, we are going to need focus.  So I look forward to getting back out there with all of you in the months and weeks ahead. 

     Thank you all so much.  Thank you for your prayers.  (Applause.)  We are going to do this.  Thank you all so much.

END
1:45 P.M. EDT