Remarks by the President at a DNC Finance Event in Austin, Texas

Four Seasons Hotel
Austin, Texas

12:55 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody!  (Applause.)  Hello, Austin!  Thank you so much.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)  Please have a seat, have a seat, have a seat.  Well, first of all, thank you, Linda, for that terrific introduction.  I would have heard it again.  (Laughter.)  I would have been happy.
 
A few other great friends -- your own, somebody from Texas, but who is doing a great job internationally on behalf of all the American people as my Trade Representative, Ambassador Ron Kirk is here.  (Applause.)  More importantly, Ambassador Ron Kirk’s mom is here.  (Applause.) 

A wonderful congressman who is battling day in, day out on behalf of the people of Texas and the folks in his district -- Lloyd Doggett is here.  (Applause.)  I want to thank Mayor Lee Leffingwell for his hospitality.  (Applause.)  Texas Democratic Party chair Boyd Richie and his lovely wife Betty are here.  (Applause.)  And our DNC deputy national finance chair Kirk Rudy is here.  (Applause.) 

It’s good to be back in Texas.  And it’s really good to be back in Austin.  (Applause.)  I just love Austin, Texas.  I do.  Every time I come here I like the people, I like the food, I like the music.  I like that there are a bunch of Democrats here.  (Laughter.)  I like that, too.  (Applause.)  It is wonderful.  And as I look out throughout this crowd, there’s so many of you who did so much on behalf of our campaign, on behalf of my election.  You were with us when we were up; you were with us when we were down -- and you will recall we had some down days.  And I know that if it weren’t for you I might not be standing here as President of the United States.  So, to all my good friends here in Texas, thank you very much for everything that you’ve done.  (Applause.) 

Of course, whenever I talk to my supporters I am reminded of a story Abraham Lincoln liked to tell:  A man comes to the White House demanding to see the President -- and this is at a time when things were a little more relaxed in terms of security -- so he insists that he was a big supporter of President Lincoln.  Finally he gets through reception, gets an audience with the President, and says, “If it weren’t for me you would not be President of the United States.”  And President Lincoln says, “I forgive you.”  (Laughter.) 

It is an extraordinary honor, obviously, to be your President.  But I will also say that the last few years have been incredibly challenging for so many people throughout America.  You know that here.  It’s certainly true all across the country.

Eighteen months ago, when I took office, after nearly a decade of economic policies that has given us little more than sluggish job growth, sluggish economic growth, falling incomes, falling wages, a record deficit, all which culminated in the worst recession that we had experienced since the Great Depression -- that's what we were walking into. 

The month I was sworn in, we lost 750,000 jobs -- just in that one month.  We had lost 3 million jobs in the previous six months.  The next month we lost 600,000.  So we were facing what many economists thought might be a return not just to a recession but a Great Depression.

Now, we didn’t get to that point by accident.  We got there after nearly 10 years of an economic theory in Washington that was pretty straightforward:  You cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans, you cut back rules and enforcement when it comes to special interests, and then you cut the middle class loose to fend for themselves. 

So if you’re a young person who couldn’t afford to go to college, tough luck, you’re on your own.  If you’re a child here in Texas that doesn’t have health insurance, them’s the breaks, pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.  If you’re a worker who had been laid off, maybe short of retirement, and couldn’t find anything that would allow you to pay the bills or pay the mortgage, that’s too bad, you’re on your own.  Now, on the other hand, if you’re a Wall Street bank or an insurance company or an oil company, then you got to write your own ticket. 

We know how this approach turned out.  So when I took office, we put in place a new economic plan -- a plan that rewards hard work instead of greed; a plan that rewards responsibility instead of reckless; a plan that focused on our middle class,  making them more secure, and making sure that our country was competitive over the long run so the jobs and industries of the future weren’t going to China or India or Germany, but were going to the United States of America, right here. 

And instead of spending money on special interest tax loopholes that don’t create American jobs, we said we’re going to make smart investments in education and innovation and clean energy that will benefit all people and our entire economy.  Instead of giving special interests free rein to write their own regulations, we demanded new accountability from Washington to Wall Street so that big corporations had to play by the same rules as small companies and by individuals.  That’s only fair.

Now, it took us nearly a decade to dig ourselves into a very deep hole.  And so I’m here to tell you that it’s going to take us some more time to dig our way out of that hole.  The devastation that has touched so many of our families, so many of our communities, that is going to take some time to heal.  And I hear those stories firsthand wherever I travel.  I hear about them in the letters that I receive every night that I read from people who are doing their best to keep on striving towards that American Dream, but keep on hitting a bunch of road blocks and are looking for help.  So the road to recovery is long and it’s filled with challenges.  And I’m under no illusion that we’ve gotten there yet.  We’ve got a lot more work to do. 

But here is the thing I want everybody here to understand, because you were part of that journey that we started three years ago.  After 19 months in office, we are on the right track.  (Applause.)  An economy that was shrinking by up to 6 percent when I took office is now growing -- not as fast as we want, but it is growing. 

We were losing all those jobs every month.  We’re now adding private sector jobs -- seven consecutive months now that we’ve seen private sector job growth.  It’s being offset some because state and local budgets are getting hammered so hard that they’re laying off folks even as the private sector is starting to pick up.  But we’re moving in the right direction.

And so the last thing we can afford to do at this critical juncture in our history is to go back to the same policies that got us into this mess in the first place.  And that is what this November election is going to be all about.  Are we going to move forward, or are we going to move backwards?  Policies that crashed the economy, that undercut the middle class, that mortgaged our future -- do we really want to go back to that?  Or do we keep moving this country forward?

Now, when we talk about this going back thing, I notice some Republicans say, well, he just wants to bash the previous administration.  He’s looking backwards.  He’s trying to take the focus off the tough economic situation that a lot of people are feeling.  No, no, no.

The reason we’re focused on it is because the other side isn’t offering anything new.  I mean it would be one thing if having run the economy into the ground, having taken record surpluses and turned them into record deficits, if having presided over the meltdown of our financial system, that they had gone off into the desert for a while and reflected -- (laughter) -- and said, boy, we really screwed up.  What we were selling didn't work.  It badly damaged the American economy, and now we’re going to come back with a whole new set of ideas. 

But that's not what’s happening.  Instead, they are trotting out the exact same ideas that got us into this mess in the first place.  Their big economic plan is to renew the tax cuts that helped to turn surpluses into deficits -- tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.  And once you get past that, they don't have another new idea.  That's it.

In fact, when the leader of the Republicans in the House of Representatives was asked, what’s your big jobs plan, he said, well, we should repeal health care.  (Laughter.)  That was it.  I don't know how that would create jobs other than maybe for folks who want to deny you coverage for health care.  But it sure isn’t a new plan.  

And so we’ve got a choice between a forward-looking agenda that is rebuilding the structure of this economy so it’s working for all Americans, or just going back to the same stuff that got us into this mess. 

In fact, I’ve been traveling around the country trying to use an analogy here, and it’s as if these guys took the car, drove it into the ditch, then -- so we put our boots on, we walked down into the ditch, into the mud.  We pushed; we shoved. Meanwhile, they’re standing back, they’re watching us -- (laughter) -- drinking a Slurpee or something -- (laughter) -- and saying, well, you’re not pushing fast enough and you should push this way instead of that way.  And they had a lot of commentary, but they sure weren’t putting their shoulder behind pushing.

And finally we get this car up on level ground.  Finally we get it back on the road.  And these guys turn to us and say, “Give us the keys back.”  (Laughter.)  Well, no, you can’t have the keys back because you don’t know how to drive.  (Laughter.)  You do not know how to drive and so you can’t have the keys back. (Applause.)

Now, here’s another interesting thing -- I want you guys to think about this.  If you have a car and you want to go forward, what do you do?  You put it in “D.”  (Laughter.)  When you want to go backwards, what do you do?  You put it in “R.”  (Applause.) I'm just saying.  That’s no coincidence.  (Laughter.)  We are not going to give them the keys back. 

What they’re really counting on is amnesia.  That’s their basic theory in this election.  They know they messed up, and they know that we pulled the country out of the problems that we were in.  But they figure, well, you know what, he’s been in office long enough, and this was a deep enough, tough enough recession, and things aren’t where people know they should be, and so maybe they’ll forget that actually this was the result of our economic policies, so we’ll just offer the same policies.

But I think the American people are smarter than that.  I think they understand that if we want the kind of America for our children and our grandchildren that we truly hope for, then we’ve got to move in a new direction -- not only to solve some of these short-term economic problems but to lay a foundation for long-term economic growth. 

And what does that mean?  That means that instead of giving tax breaks to companies that are shipping jobs overseas, we’ve got to give tax breaks to companies that are creating jobs right here in the United States of America.  We have started to do that.  (Applause.)  We’ve given eight tax cuts to small businesses so far, and we are not done. 

But you know what?  The other side has resisted every attempt.  We’ve got a bill right now that was pending in the Senate to provide assistance to small businesses.  Now, this should be as American as apple pie.  Small businesses create two out of every three jobs in America.  So we put together a package, paid for -- doesn’t add to the deficit -- that would help small businesses get loans, would eliminate the capital gains rate for small business start-ups.  The Chamber of Commerce endorses it.  Now, let me tell you -- (laughter) -- the Chamber of Commerce doesn’t always go out of its way to say nice things about me. 

And yet we still can’t get it moving through the Senate, because these folks -- their basic theory is, we don't want to do anything that helps the President move the country forward, because they’re thinking about the next election instead of the next generation.

We’ve got a different approach.  We’ve started to jumpstart a homegrown clean energy economy.  All across the country you’re seeing wind turbines and solar panels and biodiesel that is being built right here in the United States of America.  We have single-handedly started a advanced battery manufacturing industry right here.  We used to have 2 percent of the batteries that go into electric cars.  We’re going to have 40 percent of that industry right here in the United States of America by 2015, thanks to some of the work that we’ve already done.

Now, the other side, they don't want to do that.  They’ve been saying no to a clean energy future.  We’ve said we needed 21st-century infrastructure that could put people back to work, particularly all those folks who’ve been laid off of the construction industry now that the housing bubble has burst -- put them to work not just rebuilding roads and bridges, dams and sewer lines, all the traditional infrastructure, but building a smart grid that can carry energy efficiently all across America. Or creating broadband lines into rural areas so that they can compete in the global economy. 

Or the others say -- what did the other side say?  They said no -- because they’re thinking about the next election instead of the next generation.  No to small business tax cuts.  No to clean energy jobs.  No to infrastructure projects.  I have to say, though, they do show up at the ribbon-cuttings for the infrastructure projects.  (Laughter.)  Lloyd knows this.  They will fulminate and say it’s going to be Armageddon if we pass all this stuff, but then they’re cheesin’ and grinnin’ right there -- (laughter) -- got the shovel all ready -- (laughter) -- sending out the press releases. 

But the point is that there’s been a fundamental lack of seriousness on the other side.  We have spent the last 20 months governing.  They spent the last 20 months politicking.  Now we've got three months to go, and so we've decided, well, we can politick for three months.  They’ve forgotten I know how to politick pretty good.  (Laughter and applause.)  And so I'm happy to make this argument -- (applause) -- I am happy to have this debate over the next several months about what their vision of the future is, because they don’t have one.  They are trying to move us backwards, and we need to move us forward.

So I just want everybody here to understand.  Here in Texas, there’s been some controversy around the issues of health care.  No state stands to benefit more from our health care reform than the state of Texas, which has so many people who are insured in this state.  (Applause.) 

The health insurance reform we passed, it’s not just preventing insurers from denying you coverage.  It’s cutting taxes for small business owners that cover their employees, by up to 35 percent of the premiums they’re paying for their employees. It’s saying to young people, you can stay on your parent’s health insurance until you’re 26 so that there’s not that gap in coverage just as they’re starting their careers.  It’s providing assistance to seniors, so that they can help to deal with that doughnut hole that was created by the prescription drug plan.  And slowly, this plan is going to eliminate it.

And then there was just news last week that showed that because of our health reform plan, the life of Medicare is going to be extended for an additional 12 years.  It has made Social Security -- it has made Medicare stronger for the next generation, as well as this generation. 

And in the meantime, it has enshrined a basic principle, which is, in a country as wealthy as ours, nobody should go bankrupt just because they get sick, and no child should go without basic preventive care.  Those are basic principles that we should all be able to agree on -- unless you’re thinking about the next election instead of the next generation. 

The other party has pledged to repeal Wall Street reform.  Now, this gives you some indication of what this election should be about.  Here we have a situation in which the recklessness of a few on Wall Street -- and I don’t want to paint with a broad brush here.  There are some people on Wall Street and in banks across America that do right by their customers.  But a handful of folks took exorbitant bets with huge leverage and other people’s money and almost brought this entire economy to a halt. Businesses, large and small, couldn’t get credit.  Everybody was panicked.  The stock market plunged.  People lost trillions of dollars worth of wealth.  And we are going to be digging ourselves out from that destructive force for years to come. 

Now, you would think in the aftermath of that, that anybody sensible would say, you know what, we need to have some stronger rules of the road in place, not to stifle innovation, not to strangle the free market, but rather to make sure that everybody is playing by some basic rules; that financial institutions are making their money by providing good products and good services to their customers, instead of trying to game the system.

And yet, if you ask the Republican leaders in Washington, they all want to repeal the reforms that we just passed.  Makes no sense -- unless you’re thinking about the next election, or you’re thinking about the special interests that you’ve been working with hand in glove for the last 20 months or the last decade.  It doesn’t make sense -- unless you’re only thinking about the next election.

We’re in a college town here.  One of the things we did was we said we’ve got to make college more affordable to all Americans.  And yet a system where the government was guaranteeing loans but they were sending them through financial institutions who were skimming billions of dollars in profits -- and so we said, you know what, let’s just cut out the middleman, give that money directly to young people.  We’re now providing more than a million young people loans that they weren’t getting before because of this single measure that we took.  (Applause.) But we got no help from the other side.  We got no help from the other side. 

For years, the other side did nothing about the fact that too many women aren’t paid the same as men for doing the exact same work.  We decided to pass a law that says we mean what we say, equal pay for equal work.  (Applause.)  We didn’t get help on that.

They want to talk about tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.  We provided 95 percent of working families here in America a tax cut.  We believe in trying to keep taxes low for folks who really need help, especially at a time when their incomes and their wages are flat-lining.  But for you to talk about being a deficit hawk, that you want responsible deficit hawk, that want responsible governance, and then you’re willing to argue for $700 billion worth of tax cuts for people who don't need them and weren’t even asking for them?  That tells me you’re thinking about the next election instead of the next generation.

And then most recently we’ve got the crisis in the Gulf.  Now, thankfully, because of incredibly hard work by people from all across government, we are now finally able to say that the well is contained and we could get a permanent kill of that well over the next couple of weeks.  But the kind of damage that's been done, obviously, to the Gulf has been tremendous.  And small business owners and fishermen who’ve been impacted, when you talk to them directly, and they start tearing up because these are businesses and a way of life that has been in their families for generations they feel like may be lost -- that prompted me to say to BP, we want you to be responsible, do the right thing, and put in place $20 billion to make sure that these folks get paid, because they were not at fault in this crisis.

And what does the ranking member, who would be the chairman of the Energy Committee if the Republicans took over the House next year, what did he have to say?  He apologized to BP; said, I’m sorry.  I’m sorry the President shook you down.  I think he may have added in there, Chicago shakedown.  (Laughter.)  I’m not sure.  Maybe it was somebody else.  Apologized to BP because we decided we needed to hold a company accountable for the environmental devastation and the economic devastation that had been caused in the Gulf. 

I don't even think he was thinking about the next election. (Laughter.)  I don't know what he was thinking about.  But it’s consistent with a governing philosophy that says there shouldn’t be any rules on the most powerful forces.  They should be able to operate unconstrained. 

Right now all around this country there are groups with harmless-sounding names like Americans for Prosperity, who are running millions of dollars of ads against Democratic candidates all across the country.  And they don't have to say who exactly the Americans for Prosperity are.  You don't know if it’s a foreign-controlled corporation.  You don't know if it’s a big oil company, or a big bank.  You don't know if it’s a insurance company that wants to see some of the provisions in health reform repealed because it’s good for their bottom line, even if it’s not good for the American people.

A Supreme Court decision allowed this to happen.  And we tried to fix it, just by saying disclose what’s going on, and making sure that foreign companies can’t influence our elections. Seemed pretty straightforward.  The other side said no.

They don't want you to know who the Americans for Prosperity are, because they're thinking about the next election.  But we’ve got to think about future generations.  We’ve got to make sure that we’re fighting for reform.  We’ve got to make sure that we don't have a corporate takeover of our democracy.

So, Austin, the bottom line is this:  We’ve traveled a long way over the last 19 months, in large part thanks to folks like you.  We have had historic challenges and we’ve had historic responses.  But right now the choice is between whether we go back to those policies that got us into this mess, or we continue with the policies that are getting us out of this mess.

And I’m confident that the American people -- when they're focused, as tough as these times are, they're going to say, you know what, we can’t go back to policies that were eroding our middle class, and leaving jobs to move overseas, and leaving our incomes and wages stagnant and vulnerable to forces that we don't have any control over.  I’m confident that the American people want something different.

Yes, it’s hard.  Washington, a lot of times during the course of these last 19 months, the pundits have written or they’ve talked to our press people and they say, what’s the President doing?  Doesn’t he know some of these steps that he’s taking don't poll well?  Yes, I do.  I have pollsters, too.  (Laughter.)  They tell me before any decision, boy, this is really unpopular.  (Laughter.)  Our decision on the autos was really unpopular, and we now have an auto industry that has posted profits in all three auto companies for the first time in a long time.  And we’re going to pretty soon get all our taxpayer dollars back that my administration put in, because of the steps that we took.  (Applause.)  And we’ve hired 50,000 new autoworkers and saved about a million jobs.  But at the time, it was really unpopular.  It polled really well.  But you did not elect me to just try to do what was politically expedient at the moment.

You supported me to do what was right, and that’s what we’ve been doing.  You did not elect me to think about how I could get reelected; you hired me to make sure that I was thinking about how your children and your grandchildren are going to have an America that is strong and vibrant and competitive all around the world.  (Applause.)  That’s why you put us in charge.  (Applause.)

So, Austin, I am here to tell you we are going to keep on moving this country forward, but we are going to need your help. We are going to need your help because this is a tough environment.  People are frustrated.  People have been traumatized by what’s taken place over the last couple of years. And members of Congress, who’ve been taking tough votes, courageous votes, folks like Lloyd have time and again stood up against the prevailing political winds in order to do what’s right.  They are going to need your help.  (Applause.) 

So I need you to make phone calls.  I need you to write -- I need you to talk to your friends.  I need you to talk to your neighbors.  I need you to help them raise money.  I need you to get information out.  I need you to have the same kind of passion and the same kind of hope that helped elect me a couple of years ago. 

And it’s places like this and supporters like you that ultimately are going to make all the difference.  If you are standing with us, I’m absolutely confident we’re going to do well in November.  But understand this:  More importantly, I’m absolutely confident that America is going to be back not just to as strong as we were before this crisis, but stronger than we’ve been before. 

Thank you so much, everybody.  God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

END
1:26 P.M. CDT

Remarks by the President and Elena Kagan at Reception Honoring Her Confirmation

East Room

2:25 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  This is a good day.  (Laughter.)  Good afternoon, everybody.  Welcome to the White House.  I am pleased that all of you could be here today as we celebrate the next member of our nation’s highest court.  And while she may be feeling a twinge of sadness about giving up the title of “General” -- (laughter) -- a cool title -- I think we can all agree that “Justice Elena Kagan” has a pretty nice ring to it.  (Applause.)

We are very honored to be joined today by two of Elena’s new colleagues -- Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Justice Anthony Kennedy -- and we’re thankful for their presence.  (Applause.)  Justice Kennedy assured me that he would keep Justice Kagan out of trouble, and Justice Ginsburg assured me that she would get Justice Kagan into trouble.  (Laughter.)  So we’ll see how that works out.  (Laughter.) 

We’re also pleased to have several members of Congress, as well as our Cabinet here today; and of course members of Elena’s family.  And thanks to all of you for your service and for taking time to be here today.  

I also want to express my gratitude to our Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, Senator Leahy; Ranking Member, Senator Sessions; Majority Leader Reid; and Republican Leader McConnell, for seeing to it that Elena got a full, fair and timely hearing. 

After more than 80 one-on-one meetings and 17 hours of testimony, I’d say that the Senate got a pretty good look at Elena Kagan.  They got a good sense of her judicial philosophy, her commitment to the rule of law, her rich understanding of our Constitution, and of course, where she can be found on Christmas Day.  (Laughter.) 

The bipartisan support she received in yesterday’s vote is yet another example of the high esteem in which she’s held by folks across the political spectrum.  There aren’t many law school deans who receive standing ovations from both the Federalist Society and the American Constitution Society.  And I don’t know too many folks whose fans include President Clinton, Judge Abner Mikva, and Justice Ginsburg, as well as Ken Starr, Miguel Estrada, and Justice Scalia. 

In fact, I understand that Justice Scalia came to relish their spirited exchanges during Elena’s appearances before the Court -- even after Elena cheerfully informed him that he was, and I quote, “wrong” in his understanding of a recent case.  (Laughter.)  I’m sure that was refreshing for him to hear.  (Laughter.) 

These folks may not agree on much, but they’ve all been impressed, as I have, by Elena’s formidable intellect and path-breaking career -- as an acclaimed scholar and presidential advisor, as the first woman to serve as Dean of the Harvard Law School, and most recently as Solicitor General.  They admire how, while she could easily have settled into a comfortable practice in corporate law, she chose instead to devote her life to public service.  They appreciate her even-handedness and open-mindedness, and her excellent -- and often irreverent -- sense of humor. 
 
These are traits that she happens to share with the last Solicitor General who went on to become a Supreme Court Justice -- one for whom Elena clerked, and whom she considers one of her heroes -- Justice Thurgood Marshall.  And we are very proud to have Justice Marshall’s widow here today joining us.  (Applause.)

In a tribute she wrote after Justice Marshall’s death, Elena recalled how she and her fellow clerks took turns standing guard when his casket lay in state at the Supreme Court -- and how 20,000 people stood in a line that stretched around the block to pay their respects.  They were people from every background and every walk of life: black, white, rich and poor, young and old.  Many brought their children, hoping to impress upon them the lessons of Justice Marshall’s extraordinary life.  Some left notes, some left flowers.  One mourner left a worn slip opinion of Brown v. Board of Education.

It is, to this day, a moving reminder that the work of our highest Court shapes not just the character of our democracy, but the most fundamental aspects of our daily lives -- how we work, how we worship, whether we can speak freely and live fully, whether those words put to paper more than two centuries ago will truly mean something for each of us in our time. 

Because as visionary as our founders were, they did not presume to know exactly how the times would change and what new questions fate and history would set before us.  Instead, they sought to articulate principles that would be timeless -- ones that would accommodate the changing circumstances of our lives while preserving the rights and freedoms on which this country was founded. 

Today is one of those moments when you can’t help but appreciate the extraordinary success of their efforts.  For nearly two centuries, there wasn’t a single woman on the Supreme Court.  When Elena was a clerk, there was just one.  But when she takes her seat on that bench, for the first time in history, there will be three women serving on our nation’s highest court.  (Applause.) 

It is, as Justice Ginsburg recently put it, “one of the most exhilarating developments” -- a sign of progress that I relish not just as a father who wants limitless possibilities for my daughters, but as an American proud that our Supreme Court will be a little more inclusive, a little more representative, more reflective of us as a people than ever before.

And it is yet another example of how our union has become more, not less, perfect over time -- more open, more fair, more free.  That’s not just a matter of accident or chance.  While those founding truths about liberty and equality may have been self-evident, they are not self-perpetuating.  And it is the members of our highest court who do the vital and constant work of ensuring that they endure.  And that's work that I am confident Elena will carry out with integrity, with humanity, and an abiding commitment to the ideal inscribed above our courthouse doors:  equal justice under the law. 

So it is now my great pleasure to introduce, as our next Supreme Court Justice, Elena Kagan.  (Applause.)

MS. KAGAN:  Thank you so much, Mr. President.  Thank you for the honor you’ve given me and the trust you’ve placed in me by nominating me to the Supreme Court.  I am deeply grateful. 

Thank you also for lending me some of your marvelous staff since my nomination.  There’s a lot of work and preparation that goes into the confirmation process.  And I very much appreciate their tireless efforts.  And one person deserves a special shout-out for her incomparable energy, expertise and wisdom, and that's the head of your judicial nominations team, Susan Davies.  (Applause.)

I also want to thank the Judiciary Committee and the entire Senate for giving me such respectful and expeditious consideration.  Chairman Leahy gave me wonderful advice throughout this process, and both he and Senator Sessions ensured that my hearing was serious and courteous.  I also very much enjoyed meeting with 83 senators -- but really who’s counting? -- (laughter) -- and enjoyed learning more about their concerns, their interests, and their deep commitments to public service.

I’m delighted that many of my former colleagues from the Solicitor General’s Office are here.  It’s the best law office in the country and I’ve learned every day from its members.  Now, once I put on that robe, I’m only going to vote with them when they have the better of the argument, which, let’s be frank, is not in every case.  (Laughter.)  But I will always -- (laughter) -- but I will always appreciate their integrity and professionalism and dedication.

Finally, I want to thank my family and friends.  I have a lot of family here today -- my brothers and sister-in-law, a nephew, a niece, aunts, uncles, cousins -- and I have a great many friends here as well.  You came from all over the country as soon as you heard the Senate had approved my nomination.  And I’m moved and deeply grateful for your support.

And all around me in this room, I feel the presence of my parents.  I wouldn’t be standing here today if not for their love and sacrifice and devotion.  And although my parents didn’t live to see this day, what I can almost hear them saying -- and I think I can hear Justice Marshall saying this to me right now as well -- is that this appointment is not just an honor.  Much more importantly, it is an obligation -- an obligation to protect and preserve the rule of law in this country; an obligation to uphold the rights and liberties afforded by our remarkable Constitution; and an obligation to provide what the inscription on the Supreme Court building promises:  equal justice under law.

Tomorrow, I will take two oaths to uphold this solemn obligation: one, to support and defend the Constitution; and the other, to administer justice without respect to persons, to the rich and poor alike.

Today, Mr. President, I will simply say to you and to everyone here and across the nation that I will work my hardest and try my best to fulfill these commitments and to serve this country I love as well as I am able.

Thank you.  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  I told Elena to go ahead and soak it in because I'm not sure they’re allowed to clap in the Supreme Court.  (Laughter.)  But thank you very much for joining us, and please enjoy the reception.  Thank you.

END
2:38 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the President at a DNC Finance Event in Chicago, Illinois

Chicago Cultural Center
Chicago, Illinois

5:30 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, hello, hello!  Thank you.  Thank you so much, everybody.  Hello, hello!  It is good to be back in Chicago!  (Applause.)  Somebody has got the “Obama 44” license plate.  (Applause.)  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you so much.  What a wonderful birthday gift to be back home with so many good friends.  (Applause.) 

There are a number of people I just want to make mention of.  You probably have already heard from them, but I want you to know how much I appreciate what they are doing each and every day -- outstanding leadership, leadership that’s going to move this country forward.  First of all, our wonderful governor and the next lieutenant governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn and Sheila Simon.  Give them both big rounds of applause.  (Applause.) 

Dear friend who fights each and every day on behalf of working families across her district, this state, and the country -- Jan Schakowsky is in the house.  (Applause.)  Senate President John Cullerton is here.  (Applause.)  One of the smartest guys in the state legislature and one of the funniest as well.  (Laughter.)  And did great work with me when I was in the state senate.

We’ve got the next Congressman from Illinois’ 10th congressional district -- Dan Seals in the house.  (Applause.)  There’s Dan.  I want to thank the preprogram speakers Sheena Patton from Organizing For America --  (applause) -- and Morgan McClelland, who is a first-time voter.  I like that.  (Applause.) 

And I’ve got a few things to say about Alexi.  (Applause.)  Before I do that, though, one other person who actually wasn’t on my sheet but I see her right in front so I have to say something.  This was -- this is I guess still my state representative, almost -- I’m right at the border.  But also was a great friend for a very long time and is a wonderful leader in the House of Representatives -- Barbara Flynn Currie.  So I just wanted to acknowledge Barb.  (Applause.) 

Now, I see so many good friends who’ve been with me since I was skinnier -- (laughter) -- less gray -- (laughter) -- and when nobody could pronounce my name.  (Laughter.)  And I know that if it weren’t for you, I might not be standing here tonight as President. 

I am reminded of the story Abraham Lincoln told about a guy who comes to the White House, insists on seeing the President.  He says, I worked tirelessly on the President’s behalf and he was seeking a patronage job and he insisted on an audience.  And finally, Lincoln says, okay. 

The guy comes in, he says, I am responsible -- if it weren’t for me, you would not be President.  And Lincoln says, I forgive you.  (Laughter.)  It’s a true story.

It is an extraordinary honor and privilege to be able to serve.  And I’m able to serve because of you.  I’m also proud to be here tonight with the next senator from the state of Illinois, and that's Alexi Giannoulias.  (Applause.)

I want to say to everybody here, Alexi is my friend.  I know his character.  I know how much he loves this country.  I know how committed he is to public service.  I know he is in this race for the right reasons.  I know he has been a great advocate on behalf of the people of Illinois.

He’s not in this to help lobbyists or special interests.  He’s not one of those politicians who’s going to put out his finger to the wind to see which way it’s blowing.  He is somebody who is committed to you.  You can trust him.  He is going to be an outstanding senator, and I need you to fight for him so he can fight for you in Washington -- because we’ve got a lot of work to do.  (Applause.)

Now, look, the last few years have been incredibly challenging.  Over -- almost 20 months ago, I stood in the Capitol and was sworn in as the President.  And that month -- some of you might have been there -- it was cold, remember?  (Laughter.)  It was cold, but a hopeful day. 

But even as everybody was feeling that sense of hope and optimism, we had lost almost 800,000 jobs in that month alone.  The economy was contracting at about 6 percent.  Ultimately we discovered that we lost 8 million jobs in this recession -- the worst by far since the Great Depression.  And had we not taken some steps immediately to address the crisis, we might have tipped into a second Great Depression.

Now, this would have caused enough hardship, but it was also compounded by the fact that we had had 10 years of sluggish growth, 10 years of inadequate job production, 10 years of incomes and wages that were flat-lining even as the costs for middle-class families were going up on everything from health care to tuition. 

So the middle class, working families across America, were already feeling under enormous pressure.  A lot of them were just barely hanging on, and then suddenly this storm sweeps in. 

In the last six months of 2008 alone, 3 million Americans lost their jobs.  And so these aren’t just statistics.  Behind each of these numbers is a story of heartache and frustration.  A factory worker who might have just been a few years short of retiring -- suddenly he’s lost his job, maybe he’s lost his pension.  A single mom who’s sent out job applications to everywhere she can think of -- she’s still waiting for the phone to ring day after day after day.  A college graduate who thought her degree would land her a good job with a decent paycheck -- suddenly all she’s got is a mountain of debt.

I hear these stories every day.  I read them in letters each night.  I hear them when I’m on the road traveling.  These struggles -- but also the hope of these Americans -- are why I ran for office in the first place.  That’s why we’re going to work as hard as we can as long as it takes to turn this economy around and move this country forward.  That’s why I’m here.  That is our goal.  (Applause.)

But we’re not going to be able to get to where we need to go unless we understand how in fact we got here.  We spent nearly 10 years on an economic agenda that was pretty straightforward:  You cut taxes for the wealthiest among us, folks who didn’t need tax cuts and weren’t even asking for them; you cut rules for special interests; and you cut working folks loose so they’ve got to fend for themselves. 

That was the philosophy of the last administration and that was the philosophy of their friends in Congress.  And basically what they said is, if you can’t find a job, tough luck -- you’re on your own.  If you don’t have health insurance, too bad, tough luck -- you’re on your own.  If you’re a young person who’s trying to get to college, tough luck -- you’re on your own.

Now, if you’re a Wall Street bank or an insurance company or an oil company like BP, then you can write your own rules.  And we know how this turned out.

So when we came into office, we said we are going to have a whole new approach.  We want an economic plan that rewards hard work instead of greed; that rewards responsibility instead of recklessness; a plan that’s more focused on securing the middle class and making our country more competitive for the global economy. 

And we know there are other countries fighting for the jobs of the future, countries like China and India.  And if we don’t have the best education system in the country, if we don’t have the most college graduates in the country [sic], if we don’t have -- if we don’t have the most productive research and development in the world, then we’re not going to make it. 

And I -- I tell you this:  The United States of America does not play for second place.  We are going to rebuild this economy better and stronger than it was before.  (Applause.)  And at the heart of our economic plan is three powerful words:  Made In America.  We want to start making things here in the United States and selling things to other countries and creating good jobs and opportunity right here.  (Applause.)

So instead of spending money for tax breaks that we can’t afford, we’re making smart investments in education and R&D and innovation and clean energy, so we’re building wind turbines and solar panels and biodiesel plants that will point us towards a clean energy future.

Instead of giving special interests free reign to do what they please, we’re demanding new accountability from Wall Street to Washington so that -- everybody -- big corporations have play by the same rules as small businesses and as workers do.  That’s only fair.

Now, if you’re unemployed or you can’t pay the bills, I know the only plan you want to hear about is getting a job right now.  And I wish I could stand here and tell you that there’s a way to bring back all the jobs that were lost overnight; that the economy right away is going to get back to full strength.

And between now and November, you’re going to hear a lot of promises from a lot of politicians.  And they're going to be saying to you, you know what, if we just do this, or we just do that, all your problems will be solved.  I can’t do that because not only did I run for President promising that I wouldn’t just tell you what you want to hear, but tell you what you need to know.  But now that I am President, and the sober realities of this job are ones that I’ve experienced over the last two years, I will tell you, I can’t stand here and just tell you what you want to hear.  We’re going to have to work our way out of this hole that's been dug.  It’s going to take time.

But here’s what I also know.  Even though it’s going to take years to repair all the damage caused by this recession, I am absolutely convinced that this nation is finally headed in the right direction.  Our economy is growing again.  (Applause.)  We are adding jobs again.  America is moving forward again, and the last thing we can afford to do is go back to the policies that got us into this mess in the first place!  (Applause.)

That’s the choice in this election.  You’ve got a pretty simple choice.  Either you can support those policies that got us into this mess, or you can support those policies that are getting us out of the mess.  (Applause.) 

Think about it.  Think about it.  This is not a situation in which the Republicans -- after everything that they did to take record surpluses into record deficits, after all the failed policies that resulted ultimately in the worst recession since the 1930s, it’s not as if they went back and they said, you know what, let’s reflect on what we did wrong.  (Laughter.)  You know, obviously, there were some problems there, let’s see if we’ve got a different set of theories about how we should approach the economy, and how we should look after the middle class.

I mean that would be one thing if they had kind of gone off in the wilderness, they meditated.  (Laughter.)  They came back, they said, we’ve learned from our mistakes.  We’ve got a whole new set of approaches -- a whole new set of policies.  But they're not saying that.

They have not come up with a single, solitary idea that is any different from the policies of George W. Bush, the policies that they had in place for eight years before we had a crisis.  (Applause.)  What they are betting on is amnesia.  (Laughter.)  They are betting that you don’t remember that they were in charge all this time.  (Applause.)  I think Pat may have mentioned to you, they’re trying to get you to forget that they drove the car into the ditch.  (Laughter.) 

And after we’ve pushed it out, now they’re saying, “Give us the keys back.”  (Laughter.)  But we don’t -- we haven’t forgotten, because we’ve got mud on our shoes, our back is sore from pushing that car out of the ditch.  (Applause.)  I mean, if they want to get in the back seat, that’s okay.  (Laughter.)  But we’re not going to put them behind the wheel.  (Laughter.) 

I pointed out at lunch today -- also just to carry this metaphor a little further -- (laughter) -- when you get in your car and you want to go forward, you put it in what?

AUDIENCE:  “D!”

THE PRESIDENT:  “D.”  (Laughter.)  When you want to go backwards, what do you do?  You put it in “R.”  (Applause.) 

So that’s the choice.  (Applause.)  That’s the choice we’re facing.  This is the choice we’re facing.  This is the choice we’re facing.  We want to take away tax breaks for companies that are shipping jobs overseas and give those tax breaks to companies that are investing here in the United States of America.  (Applause.)  They’ve got a different vision. 

We’ve already cut taxes for small businesses eight times.  Right now there’s a debate in the Senate as we speak.  We want to eliminate capital gains for small businesses and help them with getting more credit.  And the Republicans are saying, “Just say no.” 

We believe in jumpstarting a homegrown, clean energy industry -- because I don’t want us to be second to China or Germany or anybody else when it comes to the clean energy technologies of the future putting Americans back to work.  (Applause.)  We have -- we’ve already made investments that will lead to 800,000 clean energy jobs by 2012.  But you know what?  The other side, they’ll have none of it. 

We want to invest in the 21st century infrastructure of high-speed rail and broadband and a smart grid that can make our electric system more efficient.  They don’t want to see those investments made. 

We’ve got plans to keep jobs in America not just for the short term, but over the long run.  But on every single issue, just about, the other side has just said no.  No to small business tax cuts.  No to clean energy jobs.  No to railroad and highway projects.  That doesn’t mean they don’t show up at the ribbon-cuttings trying to take credit, even though they vote no.  (Laughter.)  They’ll show up, cheesing and grinning in front of the camera.  They’ll be waving.  (Laughter.)

But it’s not just on these issues.  It’s not just on jobs issues.  When we say that we want a country that’s more equal, and so we’re fighting for equal pay for equal work so that women are getting paid just the same as men -- (applause) -- we don’t get help.  When we said that it makes sense to reform our health insurance system so that people aren’t left without health insurance because of a preexisting condition, and insurance companies can’t drop you when you get sick, or impose an arbitrary lifetime limit, they said no. 

In fact, the leader in the Republicans in the House, when asked, “What’s your jobs plan,” he said, “Repeal health care.”  I mean, now other than giving jobs for folks who want to deny you coverage, I don’t know what kind of jobs plan that is.

On Wall Street reform -- here we have the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.  We pass financial reform, have to eke it out with almost no help from the other side, except for a couple brave Republicans.  And you’re scratching your head saying, well, do they think that hidden fees in credit cards are good?  Do they think that mortgage companies being able to steer you to unaffordable mortgages are a smart thing to do?  Apparently so.  (Laughter.)  They must think that’s good stuff.

Look, on each of these items, they want to take us backwards.  They basically think that the status quo before all that we’ve been through over the last two and a half years is perfectly fine.  I think we can do better.  I think we can do better than that.  (Applause.) 

I think we can have an America in which our health care system works for all Americans and we’re driving down costs.  I think we can have a financial sector that is fair and productive and won’t require taxpayer bailouts.  I think we can have an America in which women are being treated just like men in the workplace.  I think we can have an America in which tobacco companies aren’t marketing their products to kids.  (Applause.) 

I think we can have an America -- an America in which people who work hard, who take pride in their job, who are responsible to their families, who are responsible for their communities, that they’ve got opportunity.  An America in which our young people have a chance to get a first-class education and can go to college and are able to go on and make a career for themselves.  (Applause.) 

An America in which we are outcompeting every other country in the world and we are doubling exports, and in which the dynamism and innovation of this country continues throughout the 21st century just like it existed in the 20th century.  All those things are possible.  But this November is going to be a choice, and all of you are going to have to think about what kind of legacy are we going to leave for our kids.

We are at a crossroads here.  We are not through.  We are not out of the woods, and we are going to need your help.  So to all of you who worked so hard to help me get elected, you’ve got to work just as hard to get Alexi elected.  (Applause.)  You’ve got to work just as hard to get our congressional candidates like Dan elected.  (Applause.)  You’ve got to work just as hard to get our Governor and Lieutenant Governor elected.  (Applause.) 

You’ve got to go out there and knock on doors.  You’ve got to go out there and make phone calls.  You’ve got to -- you’ve got to understand what’s at stake here -- because the other side does.  They are going to be well financed, and they are going to be working hard.  They see this as their best opportunity to go back to the same system that they had in place all those years.

Now, ultimately, though, you know when I ran for office, a lot of people were skeptical that I could win the Senate.  Obviously, people were skeptical we could win the presidency.  There were times where I was skeptical.  But the one thing I wasn’t skeptical about was you, the American people.

I’ve always had confidence in you, that ultimately despite all the special interest ads -- and by the way, right now we’ve got a Supreme Court decision that's allowing uninhibited special interest spending on ads, and we’ve got legislation in the Senate and the House to try to fix this.  But the other side, of course, is saying no.  And we’re going to keep on fighting to make sure that foreign corporations and big special interests can’t just fund unlimited ads without even disclosing who they are. 

But despite all that, I always have confidence that the American people can cut through the nonsense and ultimately do what’s best not just for the next election, but for the next generation.   (Applause.)

I have confidence in you.  And so if you will stand with me, and if you will stand with all these outstanding candidates in the weeks to come, I promise you, we will work as hard as we have ever worked for as long as it takes to create the kind of America that our children and our grandchildren deserve. 

God bless you, Chicago.  (Applause.)  God bless you, Illinois.  God bless the United States of America. 

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

END
5:50 P.M. CDT

Declaraciones del Presidente sobre el Sector Automotor

Planta de Ensamblaje de Ford Motor Company

10:25 AM CDT

El Presidente: ¡Hola, hola, hola! (Aplausos.) ¿Qué tal? Gracias a todos. Y oigan, es un gusto verlos a todos. Les agradezco a todos los que están allá atrás. ¡Hola, hola! (Aplausos.)

Es fabuloso estar aquí. Hay un par de invitados especiales que quiero mencionar antes de que comencemos. En primer lugar, está el gobernador del gran estado de Illinois, Pat Quinn. Aplausos para Pat. (Aplausos.) Tenemos a uno de los mejores alcaldes del país: el alcalde Richard Daley está presente. (Aplausos.) Nuestro tesorero, quien pronto será senador de Estados Unidos Alexi Giannoulias, está aquí. (Aplausos.) Muchos excelentes miembros del Congreso que han respaldado al sector automotor, el congresista Jesse Jackson, Jr. (aplausos)… el congresista Bobby Rush… (aplausos)… el congresista Danny Davis… (aplausos)… la congresista Jan Schakowsky… (aplausos)… el congresista Mike Quigley. (Aplausos.)

Contamos con la presencia de Fred Hochberg de…  que es el presidente del directorio y presidente del Banco de Exportación e Importación (Export-Import Bank), que va a ayudar a Ford a vender todos esos fabulosos autos en el extranjero, no sólo aquí en Estados Unidos. (Aplausos.) Y el presidente, Mark Fields, está presente. Un aplauso. (Aplausos.)

Pues, es un gusto volver a Chicago. (Aplausos.) Es un gusto ver rostros amigos, regresar al viejo vecindario.

MIEMBRO DEL PUBLICO: ¡Feliz cumpleaños!

EL PRESIDENTE: Gracias. Me han salido unas cuantas canas más desde la última vez que estuve aquí. (Risas.) Pero es maravilloso estar de regreso en casa.

Ahora bien, no me malinterpreten, la Casa Blanca es agradable. Y el camino de la casa a la oficina es bastante corto. No tengo que manejar muy lejos. Y no hay mayor honor que ser el Presidente de todos ustedes. Pero permítanme decirles algo: no hay como volver a casa, especialmente si se trata de Chicago. (Aplausos.)

Acabo de tener la oportunidad de hacer un recorrido de esta extraordinaria planta para ver el gran trabajo que están haciendo ustedes aquí. Veo que Mark y todos pusieron a todos los aficionados de los White Sox enfrente para que los conociera. (Aplausos.)  No vi a muchos fans de los Cubs en la fila. (Aplausos.) Ni tampoco fans de los Cardinals. (Aplausos.)

Pero esta planta tiene una historia admirable. Henry Ford la construyó… Henry Ford construyó esta planta en 1924 para fabricar el modelo T. Cuando sobrevino la Gran Depresión y 25 plantas de Ford cerraron, ésta permaneció abierta. (Aplausos.) En plena Segunda Guerra Mundial, esta planta produjo vehículos blindados que ayudaron a hacer posible la victoria. (Aplausos.) En los años noventa, los trabajadores de esta planta construyeron el auto más vendido en Estados Unidos durante cinco años consecutivos. (Aplausos.)

Entonces, esta planta es parte de la historia de Estados Unidos. (Aplausos.) Durante casi nueve décadas, esta planta ha sido la piedra angular de esta comunidad. Hay trabajadores aquí cuyos padres trabajaron en esta cadena de producción. Ahora al entrar, conocí a alguien... y el padre de su padre trabajó en esta cadena de producción. Esta planta –como todo el sector– ha sido una gran fuente de orgullo para varias generaciones de trabajadores estadunidenses cuya imaginación y arduo trabajo han producido algunos de los mejores autos que el mundo vio jamás, y el sudor de su frente ha ayudado al desarrollo de la clase media que permitió la superación de millones de personas en todo Estados Unidos. (Aplausos.)

Esta planta ha pasado por tiempos buenos, cuando el sector automotor de Estados Unidos era líder en el mundo y en tiempos no tan buenos, cuando el futuro del sector automotor estaba en duda.

Y seamos realistas, recientemente hemos visto algunos de esos años no tan buenos. El año que asumí el mando, este sector perdió cientos de miles de empleos. Las ventas disminuyeron 40 por ciento… 40 por ciento. Cuando llegó la crisis financiera y cuando llegó esta gran recesión, eso se sumó al hecho que este sector había pospuesto por mucho tiempo decisiones difíciles, había pospuesto adaptarse a tiempos cambiantes. Y tuvimos que enfrentar una realidad difícil e inimaginable, que era que dos de los tres principales fabricantes de autos – GM y Chrysler – estaban al borde de la liquidación. Si eso hubiera sucedido, se habrían eliminado más de 1 millón de empleos y eso hubiera sido un golpe devastador para toda la economía.

Ahora bien, Ford estaba en mejor situación financiera y pudo sobrellevar la tormenta sin ayuda federal. (Aplausos.) Eso es testamento del arduo trabajo que todos ustedes hacen y las decisiones que esta compañía tomó. Pero no es necesario que les diga, y su CEO… ha dicho esto públicamente: si su competencia hubiera quebrado, habría traído abajo a muchos proveedores de los cuales ustedes dependen. La marca de autos estadounidenses habría quedado afectada. Eso habría tenido consecuencias severas para Ford. Y ése es el desafío que enfrentábamos cuando asumí el mando: una industria que estaba al borde del abismo.

Había mucha gente lista a descartar el sector automotor de Estados Unidos, que pensaba que simplemente deberíamos abandonarlos a su suerte. Hay quienes todavía lo piensan hoy. ¿Pero saben qué? No es así que se construye un futuro mejor. No es así que construimos un Estados Unidos mejor. No nos damos por vencidos. Estados Unidos no se da por vencido. Siempre competimos. Es lo que hacemos. Y es lo que estamos haciendo con el sector automotor de Estados Unidos. (Aplausos.)

Por lo tanto, me rehusé a abandonar a este sector y empleos estadounidenses. Deposité mi fe en el trabajador estadounidense. Considero que el trabajador estadounidense es el mejor del mundo. (Aplausos.) Y si estamos dispuestos a trabajar juntos y reconstruir y sacrificarnos a corto plazo, será un nuevo inicio para la gran industria estadounidense. Si logramos tener un propósito común, podremos volver a ver que se diseñen y produzcan los mejores autos del mundo una vez más aquí en Chicago, aquí mismo en la región del medio oeste, aquí mismo en Estados Unidos de Norteamérica. (Aplausos.)

O sea que permítanme decirles. El viernes, estuve con trabajadores de una planta de GM. Estuve con trabajadores de una planta de Chrysler. Hoy estoy con trabajadores de una planta de Ford. (Aplausos.) Aposté en el trabajador estadounidense. Estoy dispuesto a apostar en el trabajador estadounidense en cualquier momento. (Aplausos.) Y gracias a sus esfuerzos y al sacrificio que han hecho en todo el sector en el último año, esta industria está volviéndose más sólida. Está generando empleos nuevos. Está produciendo autos y camiones de consumo eficiente de combustible que llevarán a Estados Unidos hacia un futuro de independencia energética. Cada uno de ustedes está probando que las personas negativas estaban equivocadas.

Todos los fabricantes de autos… los tres fabricantes de autos de Estados Unidos ahora operan rentablemente. Es la primera vez en seis años. (Aplausos.)

Los fabricantes de autos en Estados Unidos han generado 55,000 empleos desde junio. (Aplausos.) Es la mayor generación de empleo en más de 10 años en este sector. Las ventas han repuntado. Los fabricantes de autos están manteniendo abiertas las plantas durante el verano, cuando típicamente cierran, para mantenerse al nivel de la demanda. En toda la cadena de suministro, plantas que no existirían sin los sacrificios hechos en todo el sector operan a capacidad máxima o casi al máximo.

Y esta planta, aquí mismo, está aumentando sus operaciones. (Aplausos.) Lo que dije el año pasado fue que si los fabricantes de autos en Estados Unidos estaban dispuestos a tomar las decisiones difíciles y necesarias para ser más competitivos en el futuro, Estados Unidos los apoyaría. Y algo que hicimos fue poner en práctica un nuevo estándar nacional de eficiencia en el consumo de combustible para todos los autos y camiones vendidos en Estados Unidos. Eso fue bueno para los consumidores, fue bueno para el medio ambiente y finalmente les dio a nuestros fabricantes de autos la certeza que necesitaban para planear para el futuro... un futuro en el que los trabajadores estadounidenses construyen los autos para el siglo XXI que el mundo desea comprar.

Entonces, Ford se dedicó a aumentar la eficiencia en el consumo de combustible en más de una docena de sus modelos. Y el Departamento de Energía se comprometió con Ford a darle un préstamo de dos años para hacerlo posible. Y Ford usó el préstamo para reequipar esta fábrica y producir el Explorer de la próxima generación. (Aplausos.) Ése es un modelo que será hasta 30 por ciento más eficiente en el consumo de combustible.

Ahora bien, debo añadir, dicho sea de paso, que mi último auto fue un Ford. (Aplausos.) Tenía uno de esos Ford Escape, y era un auto estupendo. (Risas.) Pues debo admitir que lo compré unos dos meses antes de recibir protección del Servicio Secreto y no me permitieron seguir conduciendo. (Risas.) O sea que sólo tenía unas 2,000 millas después de cinco años, pero realmente disfruté esas 2,000 millas. (Risas.)

Pero acabo de entrar a ese Explorer y es un vehículo estupendo. (Aplausos.) Y en los próximos dos meses, esta planta iniciará un segundo turno de 1,200 trabajadores para construir ese Explorer, lo que prácticamente aumentará al doble el número de empleados. (Aplausos.) Eso no sólo es bueno para esta planta sino que es bueno para la planta de prensado en Chicago Heights; es bueno para los proveedores que están invirtiendo en nuevas instalaciones y agregando turnos y contratando a más de 600 trabajadores en Illinois e Indiana y Michigan; es bueno para toda la comunidad; es bueno para la ciudad; es bueno para el estado.

Y Ford también se ha comprometido a vender más a nivel mundial de los autos que ustedes construyen, lo que incluye el Explorer que producen ustedes aquí mismo... lo vamos a vender hasta en 90 países. (Aplausos.)

Entonces hoy... hoy, para respaldar estos esfuerzos, mi gobierno está anunciando una nueva garantía de préstamo de $250 millones del Export-Import Bank para Ford. (Aplausos.) Y lo que eso hace… lo que eso hace es, ayuda a Ford a exportar... esto ayudará a Ford a exportar más de 200,000 vehículos y camiones al extranjero, y eso significa más producción y más empleos de producción aquí mismo en Estados Unidos de Norteamérica. (Aplausos.)

Y nos va a ayudar a alcanzar el objetivo que fijé en mi discurso sobre el Estado de la Nación, que es que vamos a aumentar al doble las exportaciones de productos y servicios de Estados Unidos en los próximos cinco años. Estamos cansados de sólo comprar de otros; queremos comenzar a venderles a otros porque sabemos que podemos competir. (Aplausos.)

Es así que vamos hacer que nuestra economía crezca. Es así que vamos a apoyar millones de buenos empleos para que los trabajadores hagan lo que siempre han hecho: construir excelentes productos y venderlos en todo el mundo. Nuestros trabajadores pueden competir con cualquiera, Estados Unidos va a competir enérgicamente por cada empleo que hay y cada industria que hay y cada mercado que hay.

Entonces, Chicago, la cuestión es la siguiente: aún nos queda mucho camino por recorrer. Hemos pasado por un momento muy, muy difícil. El sector automotor ha pasado por un momento difícil. Y aún no está donde debe estar. La economía aún no está donde debe estar. Tomará más tiempo recuperarnos de todo el daño que se hizo. Pero estamos comenzando a ver que nuestros esfuerzos están produciendo resultados. Vamos por buen camino. Estamos avanzando. Esta industria no está simplemente recuperándose; está camino a volver a ser la número uno. (Aplausos.) Y estoy convencido... estoy convencido de que vamos a reconstruir no sólo el sector automotor sino la economía de manera que sean mejores y más sólidos que antes. Y una parte crucial en eso van a ser tres palabras clave: Made in America. Hecho en Estados Unidos. (Aplausos.)

Y a todas las personas negativas en Washington, como les decimos: la “gente que sólo sabe decir ‘no’ ”... (risas)... que dijeron que invertir en ustedes garantizaría el fracaso; que dijeron que simplemente debíamos abandonar a esta industria; que dijeron que respaldar a los fabricantes de autos en Estados Unidos era “la peor inversión que se podía hacer”; que trataron de bloquearnos en todo momento... cómo quisiera que estuvieran parados hoy aquí y vieran lo que veo yo. (Aplausos.) Quisiera que pudieran ver el orgullo con el que construyen estos excelentes vehículos, vehículos hechos en Estados Unidos. (Aplausos.)

Y mi mensaje para ellos es el siguiente: no apuesten en contra del trabajador estadounidense. No pierdan fe en el trabajador estadounidense. No pierdan fe en la industria estadounidense. Nos estamos recuperando. (Aplausos.)

Pocas semanas antes de que visité la planta de Chrysler –ésta en una historia verídica– fui a una planta de Chrysler. Pocas semanas antes, 14 empleados habían ganado la lotería. Y cuando ganaron, todos pensaron que simplemente iban a cobrar su dinero y relajarse y jubilarse. Todos hubieran comprendido si hacían eso. Éste es un trabajo difícil.

Pero el asunto es el siguiente: la mayoría de ellos no se está jubilando. Y el trabajador que compró el boleto que ganó, lo que hizo fue salió y le compró a su esposa uno de los nuevos autos que estaba fabricando la planta y luego salió y compró banderas estadounidenses para su ciudad, porque siente orgullo por su país. Y sigue presentándose a trabajar todos los días, porque siente orgullo por su trabajo.

Y ése es el carácter de Estados Unidos: orgullo por tu trabajo, orgullo por tu comunidad, orgullo por tu país, orgullo por la empresa para la que trabajas. (Aplausos.) Así es Ford. Así son ustedes. Así es Chicago. Así es Illinois. Así es Estados Unidos de Norteamérica. ¡Nos estamos recuperando! (Aplausos.)

Muchas gracias a todos. Que Dios los bendiga y que Dios bendiga a Estados Unidos. (Aplausos.)

            FIN           10:42 A.M. CDT