The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 04, 2010

Remarks by the President to the Business Council

Park Hyatt
Washington, D.C.

11:07 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Thank you.  Please -- please have a seat.  Thank you so much.  Ron, thank you for the introduction and your leadership.

Before I begin, I hope you don’t mind -- I indicated to Jim Owen that I want to give the American people a brief update on the investigation into the attempted terrorist attack in Times Square.  A suspect is now in custody and is being questioned.  The American people can be assured that the FBI and their partners in this process have all the tools and experience they need to learn everything we can.  That includes what, if any, connection this individual has to terrorist groups.  And it includes collecting critical intelligence as we work to disrupt any future attacks.  Justice will be done, and we will continue to do everything in our power to protect the American people.

Attorney General Eric Holder and other members of my national security team are going to be providing more details, but let me say this.  This incident is another sobering reminder of the times in which we live.  Around the world and here at home, there are those who would attack our citizens and who would slaughter innocent men, women and children in pursuit of their murderous agenda.  They will stop at nothing to kill and disrupt our way of life.  But once again, an attempted attack has been failed.

It has failed because ordinary citizens were vigilant and reported suspicious activity to the authorities.  It failed because these authorities -- local, state and federal -- acted quickly and did what they’re trained to do.  I’ve had the opportunity to personally thank some of the citizens and law enforcement officers whose quick thinking may have saved hundreds of lives.  And this suspect has been apprehended because of close and effective coordination at every level, including our Joint Terrorism Task Force and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Finally, New Yorkers have reminded us once again of how to live with their heads held high.  We know that the aim of those who try to carry out these attacks is to force us to live in fear, and thereby amplifying the effects of their attacks -- even those that fail.  But as Americans, and as a nation, we will not be terrorized.  We will not cower in fear.  We will not be intimidated.  We will be vigilant.  We will work together.  And we will protect and defend the country we love to ensure a safe and prosperous future for our people.  That’s what I intend to do as President and that’s what we will do as a nation.

Of course, expanding prosperity is what you work for at the Business Council.  So I’m pleased to have this opportunity to meet with you.  It has been a little more than a year since I last spoke to the members of this organization.  And over the past year, I’ve appreciated the advice offered by many of the leaders in this room as we’ve grappled with a set of very difficult economic challenges.

I am here today to reiterate the importance of this partnership and the importance of seeking common ground.  I recognize we’re not going to agree on every single item.  But as I indicated to a group of your members last night, my door is always open.  For, ultimately, I believe the success of the American economy depends not on the efforts of government, but on the innovation and enterprise of America’s businesses.  And it will be America’s businesses that help us emerge from this period of economic crisis and economic turmoil. 

The fact is, these have been a tough two years for our country.  I don’t need to tell you that.  At the height of the recession, countless businesses had to shut their doors.  Trillions of dollars in savings were lost, forcing seniors to postpone retirement and young people to forgo college, entrepreneurs to give up on starting up a company.  Many businesses that remained standing had to let people go.  And some of you had to make some painful decisions.  And more than 8 million men and women lost their jobs during the course of the downturn.

Just about every day, I hear from some of these people -- people who are out of work.  I hear from them through letters that I receive each night, or in town halls that I’ve held across America.  Every once in a while, I hear from children seeking to make sense of what’s happening in their families -- of the sadness and uncertainty that they don’t fully understand.  And it’s a reminder that what has happened is not just an economic problem.  It is a human tragedy.  It’s for this reason that my administration has maintained a relentless focus on reviving the economy and job growth.  And in order to deal with this crisis, we’ve had to make a number of difficult decisions, some of which are very unpopular. 

But as many of you have reported, today we’re beginning to see some hopeful signs.  When I last spoke to members of the Business Council, soon after taking office, the economy was losing an average of 750,000 jobs each month.  Today America is adding jobs again.  Many of the businesses in this room have resumed hiring, which is welcome news.  Last year, the economy was in freefall.  Today, the economy is growing again.  In fact, we’ve seen the fastest turnaround in growth in nearly three decades.  And while we had been seeing a steady decline in manufacturing, we learned yesterday that manufacturing expanded in April for the ninth consecutive month -- and at the fastest pace in nearly six years. 

Now, by no stretch of the imagination can we declare victory.  Not until the millions of our neighbors who are looking for work can find work.  Not until incomes and economic security are actually increasing for middle-class families, many who saw their income and wages flatline even during boom times in the ‘90s and -- over the last decade, after the ‘90s, rather. And not until we face the weaknesses in our economy that preceded this recession -- problems that have been allowed to fester for decades. 

We’ve been reminded of late that we can also face at any time a sudden and costly crisis that can harm our economy.  One of the discussions that we had last night was around the BP oil spill, which is going to affect the lives and livelihoods of people all along the Gulf Coast, from the fishing industry to the tourism industry.  We are committed to preventing as much of the economic damage as possible by working to contain the impact of this potentially devastating spill.  In addition, wherever possible, I would like to see the people most affected by the disaster employed in helping in the cleanup.  And we will continue to explore every possible option to create jobs and support local economies in the Gulf while continuing to monitor any potential effects on the national economy.  But obviously this is going to be a significant challenge, and we are going to be working overtime to make sure that we mitigate its impacts.

More broadly, spurring job creation and economic expansion continues to be our number one domestic priority.  That’s why, as I’ve said since the very beginning of my administration, we can’t just rebuild the economy to where it was.  We’re going to have to rebuild it stronger than before.  We’ve got to rebuild it on a new foundation of lasting growth.  We have to tackle structural problems from educations to energy; from our financial system to our health care system; from our trade imbalance to our fiscal imbalance that didn’t just lead to two years of recession, but a decade of economic insecurity for middle-class families.

Now, there’s a legitimate question about what the government’s role can and should be in bringing about this new foundation for growth.  And if you turn on cable news, you might run into folks with some strong feelings, and also some misleading claims, about the view of my administration on the subject.  What has guided me throughout the last year and a half, what has informed the decisions I’ve made is a fundamental belief in markets that are free and open to all who are willing to work hard and pursue their talents. 

I believe businesses like yours are what drive growth and create the conditions in which families and small businesses can thrive.  And I believe America’s greatest strength has always been society -- that it’s a society that values and rewards the ingenuity of people.  That doesn’t relieve government of its responsibility to help foster sustained economic growth and to ensure that our markets are functioning freely.  Government can’t light a spark in the mind of an engineer, but it can help an engineering student get loans to pay her tuition.

Government will seldom be the source of new and innovative products, but it can invest in basic research that isn’t necessarily profitable in the near term, but that holds vast potential in the long term.  Government can build the infrastructure that allows products and services to reach customers.  Government can create incentives -- in clean energy, for example -- that promote innovation and exports.  These things are public goods that no business, no individual is going to provide on their own, but that create a favorable environment in which everybody -- companies across the country -- can open and expand.

And that’s why as part of this new foundation that we seek to build, we’re investing in education, because our economic success depends on making sure people have the skills to match their talents.  So we launched a national competition last year to improve our schools based on a simple idea:  Instead of funding the status quo, we’ll only invest in reform.  We’ve recently announced the first winners in what we’re calling this Race to the Top.  And across America, it’s making a difference, as states are implementing reforms to raise student achievement, to improve education in math and science, and to turn around failing schools that steal the future of too many young Americans. 

As part of this effort, I’ve promised to speak at a high school commencement every year, to highlight schools that are encouraging excellence and preparing their students for college and careers.  And today, in fact, after a vote to narrow down the finalists on our Web site whitehouse.gov, we announced that I’m going to be speaking to graduates of Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  So, those of you based in Michigan, you should be pleased.  Go, Giants!  We’re looking forward to talking to those young people.

We’ve also set this goal:  America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.  And we’re making progress towards meeting that.  Congress passed legislation that will make college more affordable by ending unnecessary taxpayer subsidies that go to financial intermediaries for student loans.  The bill also includes one of the most significant investments in community college in history, because community colleges are a career pathway for the children of so many working families.  And last night during our discussion, one of the things -- a theme that continually came up was the fact that there are a lot of skilled jobs out there that don’t necessarily require a four-year college degree, but they’re not being filled, because we haven’t done a good enough job on just basic math -- high school math skills, for example.  We see our investment in the community colleges as a potential way to bridge that, even as we’re working on improving K-12 outcomes.

We are seeing rising enrollment in both two- and four-year schools across America.  We want to make sure that those folks who are enrolling are getting the best education possible so they can serve effectively as part of your workforce. 

Next, we’ve tackled what’s been an undeniable drag on our economy, and that’s the cost of health care.  And I appreciate the willingness of many of the leaders in this room, including Ron and Angela and some folks that I spoke to yesterday, to work with us and advise us on this issue.  I believe that the passage of this legislation is good for America’s businesses.  In fact, just two weeks ago, 4 million small business owners found a postcard from the IRS in their mailboxes.  And it was actually one of those rare moments in which something from the IRS was a welcome discovery.  Because of the reforms that were passed, millions of small business owners are eligible for a health care tax cut this year -- worth perhaps tens of thousands of dollars -- to help afford the coverage they provide to their employees.

Businesses will also be eligible for additional relief for providing insurance to retirees who are not yet eligible for Medicare.  A lot of the companies in this room can apply for this assistance starting this June.  It used to be, if you worked for a big company, when you retired you could count on having health insurance until you were eligible for Medicare.  But one of the consequences of skyrocketing health care costs is that the proportion of large firms providing insurance to its retirees has been cut in half over the past two decades.  So these folks are often unable to find affordable coverage on the individual market.  So this is going to be a welcome reform for many businesses that are trying to do the right thing by their retirees, and for the retirees themselves.  And it will provide a bridge to when health exchanges come online in a few years.

Now, we’re only at the beginning.  Many of the provisions in the health care bill have yet to be implemented.  I’m pleased to say, though, that already many insurance companies are voluntarily accelerating implementation of this law.  Many insurance companies have decided to allow parents, for example, to add their young-adult children to their policies now, instead of waiting until next fall.  Some firms have rolled back exorbitant planned rate increases.  And others have stopped the practice of rescission, where people are dropped from their coverage after they get sick.  These steps are all greatly appreciated.  They’re the right thing to do.  We will hold these companies accountable to their word and to the law -- not to be vindictive, but to fulfill our responsibilities to the American people.  But I think that we’ve seen a spirit of cooperation over the last several weeks that I’m very happy about.

Now, even as we seek to improve the skills of our workforce and reduce the crushing burden of health care costs on businesses and families, this alone is not going to be enough to drive the 21st century global economy.  We need to ensure that our economy is fostering and rewarding innovation.  And that’s why we’re building the infrastructure of tomorrow:  investing in expanded broadband access and health information technology, clean energy facilities, the first high-speed rail network in America.

That’s why we’ve set a goal of devoting more than 3 percent of our GDP to research and development -- an amount that exceeds the level achieved even at the height of the space race.  And we’ve also proposed making the research and experimentation tax credit permanent -- a tax credit that helps companies like yours afford the high costs of developing new technologies and new products, because ultimately the key to our long-term prosperity is going to be sparking even greater innovation than we’ve already seen.
 
And that’s why, in my State of the Union address, I set a goal of doubling our exports over the next five years to increase -- an increase that would support 2 million jobs.  And to help meet this goal, we launched the National Export Initiative where the federal government will significantly ramp up its advocacy on behalf of U.S. exporters.  We are substantially expanding the trade financing available to exporters, including small and medium-sized companies.  And while always keeping our security needs in mind, we're going to reform our export controls to eliminate unnecessary barriers.  So in sectors where we have a huge competitive and technological advantage, we’re going to be able to send more of those products to markets overseas.  And we’re going to pursue a more strategic and aggressive effort to open up new markets for our goods. 

Now, we also have to recognize that the long-term economic health of our country depends on addressing the fiscal health of our government.  And I know that’s going to be a significant topic of discussion today.  We continue to face not only the consequences of an economic and fiscal crisis; we also face a fiscal emergency that has built up over years.  We have a structural deficit that is unsustainable.  The day I walked in the door, the deficit stood at $1.3 trillion, with projected deficits of $8 trillion over the next 10 years.  So even as we’ve made massive investments to rebuild the economy in the short term -- we’re going to continue to do what’s necessary to spur job creation and economic growth, but we also have to rein in these deficits in the long run.

And that’s why I insisted health reform not add to our national debt.  In fact, it’s expected to bring down the deficit by as much as $1 trillion over the next two decades.  We’ve also restored what’s called the “pay as you go” rule so that Congress can’t spend a dollar on either new tax cuts or new spending unless it saves a dollar elsewhere.  We’ve gone through the budget line by line, cutting waste.  And I’ve proposed a freeze in government spending for three years.  My budget also ends loopholes and tax giveaways for oil and gas companies, as well as tax breaks for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans -- just because we can’t afford them.  And finally, I’ve appointed a bipartisan fiscal commission to take a hard look at the growing gap between what the government spends and what the government raises in revenue.

Now, I understand that some of you got a briefing on this issue in preparation for today’s meeting.  I think you understand the choices are going to be tough.  But we are making -- we are determined to make these tough choices.  We’re determined to put our nation on a stronger fiscal footing.  Because, in the end, we need an economy that’s powered less by what we borrow and consume, and more by what we produce and what we build.  I believe that’s essential.  My administration believes it’s essential.  And we’re going to need to work with you to help get to where we need to be. 

Now, none of these steps will matter if our financial system remains vulnerable to another crisis like the one that we’ve just been through.  As we learned so painfully in recent years, government has an obligation to set basic, common-sense rules in the marketplace.  This is not a hindrance -- it’s essential to the functionings of the market.  In the absence of these rules, it becomes more attractive for some to game the system than to compete and innovate honestly within it.  And this erodes trust in our markets.  It makes our economy less attractive to investors from around the world.  And, at worst, it can put the entire financial system in jeopardy, which serves no one.

So that’s why I’m working to pass a set of reforms to hold Wall Street accountable and protect consumers.  And I want to be clear:  The reforms we’ve proposed are in no way designed to hamstring businesses.  These are changes to make sure that our markets are working in a way that is open and transparent and inoculated against the kind of massive, dangerous risks that nearly brought the whole financial sector down.  And that’s in the interests of every business here and in the interest of the economy as a whole.

Now, you’re going to be hearing from my Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner, who will speak to these issues in greater detail.  But, in brief, these reforms would achieve three things.  First, they’d create what we did not have before, and that is a way to protect the financial system, the broader economy, and American taxpayers in the event that a large financial firm collapses.  What we call this resolution authority will ensure that taxpayers are never again on the hook because a firm is deemed too big to fail.

Second, these reforms would bring new transparency to our financial markets.  Part of what led to this crisis was that firms like AIG made huge and risky bets, using derivatives and other complicated financial instruments in ways that defied accountability, or even common sense. 

Now, we believe that there is a legitimate role for these financial products in our economy.  They can help allay risk.  They can help spur investment.  And there are a lot of companies that use these instruments to legitimate ends -- managing exposure to fluctuating prices or currencies.  But the position of my administration on derivatives from the beginning has been simple:  We can’t have a $600 trillion market operating in the dark.  We want to ensure that the bulk of these trades take place on an open exchange, and the rest take place in the full light of day and in full view of those charged with oversight.

The third thing that this reform will accomplish is to enact the strongest consumer financial protections ever.  This financial crisis wasn’t just the result of decisions made on Wall Street; it was the result of decisions made around kitchen tables all across America, by folks who took on mortgages and credit cards and auto loans.  And while too many Americans took on financial obligations that they knew they couldn’t afford, millions of others were, frankly, duped.  They didn’t know what they were getting into.  They were misled by deceptive terms and conditions buried in the fine print.  And this didn’t just affect these families; it hurt the entire economy.

That’s why we need to give consumers more protection in our financial system.  With a dedicated agency setting ground rules and looking out for ordinary people in our financial system, we’re going to be able to empower consumers with clear information when they’re making financial decisions.  And that way, instead of competing to offer confusing products, consumers will benefit from companies that are competing the old-fashioned way, by offering better products.  And I believe that unless your business model depends on bilking people, there is little to fear from these new rules.  It is just going to be able to empower consumers to know what they’re getting into. 

Finally, we give investors more say and more sway in the financial system.  These Wall Street reforms will give shareholders a voice with respect to salaries and bonuses awarded to top executives -- addressing a concern that has grown as a result of this crisis. 

So that’s what reform will look like.  I’m pleased that the filibuster was dropped in the Senate and that members on the other side of the aisle agreed to allow a debate.  We expect a vigorous debate, with amendments from both sides.  But make no mistake:  We cannot allow these reforms to be watered down.  And for those of you in the financial industry whose companies may be employing lobbyists seeking to weaken this bill, I want to urge you, as I said on Wall Street a couple of weeks ago, to join us rather than to fight us.  That doesn’t mean that there aren’t going to be legitimate differences on the details of what is a complicated piece of legislation.

But in its broad parameters, this proposal is a common-sense, reasonable, non-ideological approach to target the root problems that we’ve seen in our financial sector.  And I believe these reforms are not only in the interests of the broader economy, they are in the interests of the financial industry as well, because reform will not only safeguard our system against crises, it will also make our system stronger and more competitive, instilling confidence here at home and across the globe.  And I want America’s financial sector to continue to be the most trusted and the most respected in the world.  That requires reform. 

And this brings me to a final point.  We face some very big challenges right now.  The only way we're going to get through them -- the only way we ever have -- is if we align the interests of workers and businesses and government around a common purpose.  At a time of such economic anxiety, it’s tempting and, frankly, sometimes easier, to turn against one another.  So politicians can rail against Wall Street or against each other.  Businesses can fault Capitol Hill.  And all of this back and forth makes for easy talking points, it makes for good political theater, but it doesn’t solve our problems.  It doesn’t move us forward.  It just traps us in the same debates that have held us back for a very long time.  It prevents us from tackling the challenges that we’ve been putting off for decades.

I don’t believe we can afford that kind of politics anymore.  Not now.  I believe that we are in this together.  I believe that we will succeed or we’ll falter as one people.  But I am confident that if we can rise above these failures of the past, then we’re not only going to recover but we’re going to emerge stronger than before.  And because of the caliber of the leaders and businesses represented in this room, because of the ingenuity of our entrepreneurs, because of the drive and skill and talents of our people, I believe -- and I know you believe -- that our best days are still ahead of us. 

So, yes, these have been a very difficult two years.  But the storm is receding and the skies are brightening.  And America is poised to lead the world once again toward new horizons.  You are going to be a part of that process, and I thank you for your leadership. 

Thank you.  May God bless America.  (Applause.) 

END
11:32 A.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 03, 2010

Remarks by The President at Presentation of Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the U.S. Naval Academy Football Team

East Room

4:00 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody.  Please have a seat.  Welcome to the White House, and congratulations on winning your seventh straight Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.  Does this ever get old?  (Applause.)   

I do have to warn you that I consulted with the White House counsel, and according to the 22nd Amendment, you’re only allowed to come back here one more time -- (laughter) -- before it’s somebody else’s turn.  But we are honored to have you here today. 

I want to start by acknowledging a few people who are with us.  Of course I want to thank your Superintendent, Vice Admiral Jeffrey Fowler, for being here, and the outstanding work that he does.  I also want to recognize the Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, who is with us, and is doing an outstanding job as Secretary of the Navy.

I want to welcome Lieutenant Commander Wesley Brown, class of 1949, back to the White House.  There he is, right here.  (Applause.)  Wesley was the academy’s first African American graduate.  So we are extremely honored to have you here today, sir.  Thank you.

Finally, I obviously want to congratulate Coach Ken -– a fellow Hawaiian, I should point out -– on winning another -- having another great season, a winning season in Annapolis.

Now, I know it’s an understatement to say that this program has been pretty successful over the years.  You’ve been to a bowl game every year since 2003.  You’ve pulled off seven straight wins against Air Force -– eight against Navy.

AUDIENCE:  Army.

THE PRESIDENT:  -- or against Army -- excuse me.  (Laughter.)  Excuse me.  It would be hard for Navy to beat Navy. (Laughter.) 

That’s even more impressive, Coach Ken says, because the Army/Navy game isn’t just one of the biggest rivalries in college football -– it’s one of the biggest rivalries in sports, period.

But last season was special from the very beginning.  In your first game, you gave the Buckeyes a run for their money in front of 105,000 fans.  You beat Notre Dame for the second time in three years -– proving once again that even though your lineman are going up against guys who are 40 or 50 pounds heavier than they are, the Midshipmen can still run with the big dogs.

Speaking of running, I want to congratulate Ricky Dobbs for setting the NCAA rushing record for touchdowns by a quarterback this season with 27.  Where’s Ricky?  Where is he?  (Applause.)  The previous record was held by a guy named Tebow, so that’s not an easy feat.  (Laughter.) 

Now, I also understand Ricky has announced for the presidency -- (laughter) -- in the year 2040.  I know people are announcing early these days -- (laughter) -- but, Ricky, that's a bit much.  (Laughter.)  But it does mean that when Navy comes back for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy 30 years from now, you might hear a speech from this guy.  (Laughter.) 

This team wouldn’t be the same without your captains, Osei Asante and Ross Pospisil.  And so, where are those guys -- Osei, Ross, where are you?  (Applause.)  Beside their leadership on the field, I was incredibly proud to hear about the toy drive that Ross organized last year.  The team raised $1,700 and bought, wrapped and delivered toys to four needy families -- and you guys did it in the middle of a blizzard.  So we are very proud of you for that.  And I want to thank all of you guys for your compassion and your generosity.

In the end, it’s the willingness to put others above yourselves that sets this team -– and all the service academies  -– apart.  Your days are packed with morning inspections and a full load of classes, football practice, and military duties.  And oftentimes, you’re lucky if you can get a few minutes to yourselves before studying into the night.

But you do it because each of you has a higher calling -- to serve your country in a time of war.  As Ross says, “We are always going to be remembered for what we have done on the football field.  That’s all well and good.  But we want to make a difference outside Bancroft Hall, and outside the Academy walls.” And that I think is the kind of ethic that makes us all so proud.

In a few short weeks, 32 of you will have that chance when you become officers in the United States Navy and Marine Corps.  Last year, I was honored to attend the Academy commencement and see firsthand the incredible spirit that drives every Midshipman at Annapolis -- in addition to getting two chest bumps.  (Laughter.)  It’s true.

Wherever you go, you’ll remember the brothers standing with you today.  And you’ll remember the lessons that you learned at the Academy and as a member of this team.  And you’ll know what it takes to go through fire and emerge a better man and a better leader.

So I want you to know that I have no greater honor, and no greater responsibility, than serving as your Commander-in-Chief. And I promise you that this country will stand with you, from the moment you put on the uniform to the moment you take it off, as you devote your lives to freedom’s cause.

God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)  Thank you very much.  Coach.

COACH NIUMATALOLO:  Mr. President, on behalf of the United States Naval Academy and our entire football program, once again it’s a great honor for us to be here, and thank you for allowing us to come be your guests.  I know there’s many other fabulous teams that come here -- other collegians, national championship team, professional world champions -- but this team is different. This is your team.  And behind you, you have 32 great young men that in a couple months will serve you as our Commander-in-Chief. And there are no finer, great men than these.  And I’m very, very happy that we’re here.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.) 

END
4:11 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
May 03, 2010

Remarks by the First Lady at National Science Bowl

National Building Museum

12:11 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you all.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.

Well, this has been a thrill for me.  And let me do our winners a favor.  Put those trophies down.  (Laughter.)  Put them down.  You’ve earned the right not to hold them up.  (Laughter.) 

But these are the real stars.  It’s just been a pleasure to join you here at the National Building Museum for the 20th Annual National Science Bowl.  This has been a real treat.  I’ve been looking forward to this. 

I got to share the stage with Secretary Chu earlier in this year, who is not only one of the world’s leading scientists but also, as you all know, a visionary leader for our Department of Energy.  And he may just have an alternate career as a game-show host when he’s done with this.  He’s really good at it.

But we’re very proud to have Secretary Chu on our team.  He’s doing a tremendous job, and he is an example of the concrete outcomes that come with the work that you’re doing today.  This is why we need to invest in you all so much, and we’re so very proud of you.

Also, to all of the organizers, all of the volunteers, to the teachers, let’s give our teachers a round of applause.  (Applause.)  And we can’t forget all of the family members who are here.  I know there are people in the back.  Let’s give our parents and family members a round of applause.  (Applause.)  You all are all the true winners here.  Thank you for giving your time, your support to this next generation of American innovators, scientists and entrepreneurs. 

And finally, last but not least, congratulations again to the two winning teams and to every single student here who has participated in this year’s National Science Bowl, both here in Washington and in your hometowns in the months leading up today.  Again, we can’t tell you how proud we are of the hard work that obviously requires putting into something like this.  I had to study just to read the questions.  (Laughter.)  So I know you all have put in a lot of work.

But by competing in this event, you are sharpening the skills that have consistently moved our country forward.  This is the profession that has done it in so many ways:  creativity, discipline, teamwork, problem-solving, and a whole lot of hard work.  That's what it takes to make change.  You’ve worked so hard, and again the President and I -- and he is fully aware that I am here.  I went over some of the questions with him.  He didn’t know many of the answers, but that's okay.  (Laughter.)  Neither did I.  But we are both so very proud of all of you.

We believe deeply in the importance of science and math.  This is an important investment in this generation and beyond for the future of this country.

And this year we’re going to host the first-ever White House science fair for students from all across the country.  As the President has said -- (applause) -- he says this all the time.  He says, when you win the NCAA championship, the winners come to the White House.  And we think that budding inventors, scientists and mathematicians should be at the White House, too.  So we’re going to be excited to host you there.  (Applause.)

As many people have already said, we're determined to show the world and this country how cool science can really be.  We want young people energized in the way that you all are, because we know that American brainpower in science and math has always driven this country’s prosperity, helping us make the discoveries and to build the industries that have transformed the way we live and work.

That's why my husband and his administration want to ensure that every single child in this country gets a good education, particularly in math and science. 

Next week’s National Lab Day is a great example of what this might look like -- this kind of investment.  The President has highlighted his grassroots effort, which brings together scientists like Secretary Chu, organizations representing teachers, scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and local volunteers to work with young people in fun hands-on learning.

These students are going to be with us, they’re going to launch rockets, construct miniature windmills, and learn by doing and not just by listening. 

We want to bring more hands-on learning like this to students by also modernizing science labs and supporting project-based learning, and expanding advanced courses in schools throughout the country. 

We want to create more opportunities for under-represented groups as well, particularly women and girls.  We want them to have the confidence -- (applause) -- we want all our young women to have the confidence and the support to take on the study and to succeed in the study of science, math, engineering and technology.

And we want to build communities of support for all the teachers who make these subjects come alive for our students.  We couldn't do it without you.  (Applause.) 

And just a few minutes ago, thanks to the participation of the media in this, this country has seen what these students are capable of doing. 

In the coming decades, our future scientists, engineers, and leaders are going to help tackle some of our most challenging problems.  We are going to need you.  Whether it’s improving our health, harnessing clean energy, protecting our security, succeeding in the global economy, we're going to need you.  Our future depends on a new generation of young Americans who can help reaffirm our role as the world’s engine of scientific discovery and innovation.  America is the birthplace of the airplane and the air conditioner and the polio vaccine and the Band-Aid and the light bulb and the Internet.  Who knows what this country’s next young people can bring to us in the next 50 years or even in the next five years?

One thing is for sure:  We never know where science might take us.  Big discoveries haven’t always had the most obvious starting points, as well.  For instance, one day Richard Feynman, a leading American scientist after World War II, was sitting in his university’s cafeteria and across the room he saw a guy throwing a plate up into the air.  And he noticed how it spun and tilted, and he said to himself, now, you know what, I’m going to figure out why that plate wobbles like that. 

Simple question, right?  He knew it might not be all that important, that it was just a silly little problem, but he really didn’t care, because he was like Secretary Chu -- he was passionate and he was hungry for the answers and he was very curious.  He was having fun just figuring it out for no reason at all.  He was just playing around.  And you know what that led to?  The process that started when that guy threw a plate up in the air eventually turned into some new ideas about quantum electrodynamics.  And Feynman won a Nobel Prize for Physics in 1965 for that work.

As he wrote, he said, “The diagrams and the whole business that I got the Nobel Prize for came from that piddling around with that wobbling plate.”  So maybe it was just a wobbling plate, or maybe it’s the way the wind blows through the trees, or the way the dust makes you sneeze, or how watermelons explode when you drop them from a two-story window -- but to the parents and coaches and teachers here, I urge you to continue to let these students just play.  Just play around with these ideas and these possibilities.  Let them get their hands dirty.  Let them experiment.

To the students, I just encourage you, don’t be afraid to play and to ask questions.  Don’t be afraid to step off the beaten plan as you learn to find those new answers, and never, never -- I tell my girls this -- don’t be afraid to fail, because oftentimes in failure comes the best ideas.  Have fun.  Keep having fun.  Keep poking around.  And truly always follow your passions, no matter what people say.

Our country and our world, we need your energy, we need your creativity.  And who knows, maybe you’ll save thousands of lives with a new vaccine or finding a new way to grow soy beans.  Maybe your life’s work will be on display right here at the National Building Museum some day.  Maybe you’ll learn how to meet our country’s energy needs using only the sun’s warmth and the Earth’s wind and water.  Maybe you’ll change the world in ways none of us can even imagine now.

What’s always been true is that with enough creativity and thinking and a lot of hard work, science has shown us that time and time again that that “maybe” can be the beginning of something truly wonderful.

So thank you, all.  Thank you for your hard work.  Thank you for your passion.  And we will be supporting you every step of the way.  We’re so very proud.  Thanks again.  (Applause.) 

END
12:22 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 02, 2010

Remarks by the President on Oil Spill

Venice, Louisiana

3:25 P.M. CDT 

     THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  First let me say a few words about the incident in New York City.  I want to commend the work of the NYPD, the New York Fire Department, and the FBI, which responded swiftly and aggressively to a dangerous situation.  And I also want to commend the vigilant citizens who noticed this suspicious activity and reported it to the authorities.

     I just got off the phone on the way down here with Mayor Bloomberg to make sure that state and federal officials are coordinating effectively.  Since last night my national security team has been taking every step necessary to ensure that our state and local partners have the full support and cooperation of the federal government.  We're going to do what's necessary to protect the American people, to determine who is behind this potentially deadly act, and to see that justice is done.  And I'm going to continue to monitor the situation closely and do what it takes at home and abroad to safeguard the security of the American people.

     Now, we just finished a meeting with Admiral Thad Allen, our National Incident Commander for this spill, as well as Coast Guard personnel who are leading the response to this crisis.  And they gave me an update on our efforts to stop the BP oil spill and mitigate the damage.

     By the way, I just want to point out, I was told there was drizzling out here -- (laughter) -- is this Louisiana drizzle right here?  (Laughter.)

     They gave me a sense of how this spill is moving.  It is now about nine miles off the coast of southeastern Louisiana.  And by the way, we had the Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, as well as parish presidents who were taking part in this meeting, because we want to emphasize the importance of coordinating between local, state, and federal officials throughout this process.

     Now, I think the American people are now aware, certainly the folks down in the Gulf are aware, that we're dealing with a massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster.  The oil that is still leaking from the well could seriously damage the economy and the environment of our Gulf states and it could extend for a long time.  It could jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of Americans who call this place home. 

And that's why the federal government has launched and coordinated an all-hands-on-deck, relentless response to this crisis from day one.  After the explosion on the drilling rig, it began with an aggressive search-and-rescue effort to evacuate 115 people, including three badly injured.  And my thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the 11 workers who have not yet -- who have not been found. 

When the drill unit sank on Thursday, we immediately and intensely investigated by remotely operated vehicles the entire 5,000 feet of pipe that's on the floor of the ocean.  In that process, three leaks were identified, the most recent coming just last Wednesday evening.  As Admiral Allen and Secretary Napolitano have made clear, we've made preparations from day one to stage equipment for a worse-case scenario.  We immediately set up command center operations here in the Gulf and coordinated with all state and local governments.  And the third breach was discovered on Wednesday.      

We already had by that time in position more than 70 vessels and hundreds of thousands of feet of boom.  And I dispatched the Secretaries of the Interior and Homeland Security; the Administrator of the EPA, Lisa Jackson, who is here; my Assistant for Energy and Climate Change Policy; and the Administrator of NOAA to the Gulf Coast to ensure that we are doing whatever is required to respond to this event.

So I want to emphasize, from day one we have prepared and planned for the worst, even as we hoped for the best.  And while we have prepared and reacted aggressively, I'm not going to rest -- and none of the gentlemen and women who are here are going to rest -- or be satisfied until the leak is stopped at the source, the oil on the Gulf is contained and cleaned up, and the people of this region are able to go back to their lives and their livelihoods.

Currently, the most advanced technology available is being used to try and stop a leak that is more than 5,000 feet under the surface.  Because this leak is unique and unprecedented, it could take many days to stop.  That's why we're also using every resource available to stop the oil from coming ashore and mitigating the damage it could cause.  And much of the discussion here at the center was focused on if we, and when we have to deal with these mitigation efforts.

Thus far, as you can tell, the weather has not been as cooperative as we'd like on this front.  But we're going to continue to push forward. 

I also want to stress that we are working closely with the Gulf states and local communities to help every American affected by this crisis.  Let me be clear:  BP is responsible for this leak; BP will be paying the bill.  But as President of the United States, I'm going to spare no effort to respond to this crisis for as long as it continues.  And we will spare no resource to clean up whatever damage is caused.  And while there will be time to fully investigate what happened on that rig and hold responsible parties accountable, our focus now is on a fully coordinated, relentless response effort to stop the leak and prevent more damage to the Gulf.

I want to thank the thousands of Americans who've been working around the clock to stop this crisis -- whether it's the brave men and women of our military, or the local officials who call the Gulf home.  They are doing everything in their power to mitigate this disaster, prevent damage to our environment, and help our fellow citizens. 

During this visit, I am hoping to have the opportunity to speak with some of the individuals who are directly affected by the disaster.  I've heard already that people are, understandably, frustrated and frightened, especially because the people of this region have been through worse disasters than anybody should have to bear. 

But every American affected by this spill should know this: Your government will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to stop this crisis. 

This is one of the richest and most beautiful ecosystems on the planet, and for centuries its residents have enjoyed and made a living off the fish that swim in these waters and the wildlife that inhabit these shores.  This is also the heartbeat of the region's economic life.  And we're going to do everything in our power to protect our natural resources, compensate those who have been harmed, rebuild what has been damaged, and help this region persevere like it has done so many times before.

That's a commitment I'm making as President of the United States, and I know that everybody who works for the federal government feels the exact same way.

Thank you very much, everybody.  (Applause.) 

                       END             3:33 P.M. CDT

 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 02, 2010

Remarks by the President at White House Correspondents Association Dinner

Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C.

10:04 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you so much, Ed.  And to all the other board members; to honored guests; and to the lovely First Lady.  (Applause.)  Good evening. 

Ed is right, I work a lot.  And so I wasn’t sure that I should actually come tonight.  Biden talked me into it.  (Laughter.)  He leaned over and he said, "Mr. President -- (laughter) -- this is no ordinary dinner.  (Laughter.)  This is a big (beep) meal."  (Applause.) 

It's been quite a year since I've spoken here last -- lots of ups, lots of downs -- except for my approval ratings, which have just gone down.  (Laughter.)  But that's politics.  It doesn’t bother me.  Beside I happen to know that my approval ratings are still very high in the country of my birth.  (Laughter and applause.)

And then just the other day, my dear friend, Hillary Clinton, pulled me aside and she gave me a pep talk.  She said, despite the numbers, she said, "Don't worry, Barack, you're likeable enough."  (Laughter.)  Which made me feel better.

Of course I may not have had the star power that I once had -- but in my defense, neither do all of you.  (Laughter.)

People say to me, "Mr. President, you helped revive the banking industry, you saved GM and Chrysler.  What about the news business?"  I have to explain, hey, I'm just the President.  (Laughter.)  I'm not a miracle worker, here.  (Laughter.)

Though I am glad that the only person whose ratings fell more than mine last year is here tonight -- great to see you, Jay.  (Laughter and applause.)  I'm also glad that I'm speaking first, because we've all seen what happens when somebody takes the time slot after Leno's.  (Laughter.)

JAY LENO:  Goodnight, everybody.  (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT:  By the way, all of the jokes here tonight are brought to you by our friends at Goldman Sachs.  (Laughter.) So you don't have to worry -- they make money whether you laugh or not.  (Laughter.)

We do have a number of notable guests in attendance here tonight.  Obviously I'm most pleased that Michelle accompanied me.  She doesn’t always go to these things.  (Applause.)  And there are few things in life that are harder to find and more important to keep than love -- well, love and a birth certificate.  (Laughter.)

The Jonas Brothers are here.  (Applause.)  They're out there somewhere.  Sasha and Malia are huge fans.  But, boys, don't get any ideas.  (Laughter.)  I have two words for you -- predator drones.  (Laughter.)  You will never see it coming.  (Laughter.) You think I'm joking.  (Laughter.)

Speaking of 'tween heartthrobs, Scott Brown is here.  (Applause.)  I admire Scott -- a rare politician in Washington with nothing to hide.  (Laughter.)  Now, you should be aware that Scott Brown is not the only one with a salacious photo spread floating around.  Recently David Axelrod was offered a centerfold opportunity of his own -- now, I did not know that Krispy-Kreme had a catalog.  (Laughter.)  But it's true. 

I saw Michael Steele backstage when we were taking pictures -- AKA Notorious GOP.  (Laughter.)  Michael, who knows what truly plagues America today -- taxation without representin' --(Laughter.)  My brother.  (Laughter.)  I did a similar routine last year, but it always works.  (Laughter.)

Odds are that the Salahis are here.  (Laughter.)  There haven't been people that were more unwelcome at a party since Charlie Crist.  (Laughter.)

Unfortunately, John McCain couldn't make it.  Recently he claimed that he had never identified himself as a maverick.  And we all know what happens in Arizona when you don't have ID.  (Laughter.)  Adios, amigos.  (Laughter and applause.)

Look, I feel for John.  You know, we were on the road together and obviously had a hard-fought battle, and you learn, certainly at the national level, politics isn’t easy.  This year I've experienced my share of disappointments.  For example, I had my heart set on the Nobel Prize -- for Physics.  (Laughter.)  But, hey, you can't win 'em all.  (Laughter.)

Speaking of undeserved honors, a few weeks ago I was able to throw out the first pitch at the Nationals game.  And I don't know if you saw it, but I threw it a little high and a little outside.  This is how FOX News covered it:  "President panders to extreme left-wing of batter box."  (Laughter.)  On the other hand, MSNBC had a different take -- "President pitches no-hitter."  (Laughter.)  And then CNN went a different way altogether -- (video is shown about volcano eruption in Iceland) -- I guess that's why they're the most trusted name in news.  (Laughter.)

Now, look, I have a reputation for giving cable a hard time, so let's pick on Politico for a while.  (Laughter.)  You know, people attack Politico for putting a new focus on trivial issues, political fodder, gossip sheet.  That's not fair.  Politico has been doing this for centuries now.  Just check out these headlines -- our researchers found these:  "Japan surrenders -- where's the bounce?"  Then there's this one:  "Lincoln saves Union, but can he save House majority?"  I don't know if you can see, there's a little portion there -- "He's lost the Southern white vote."  (Laughter.)  It's an astute analysis there.

And my favorite, July 3, 1776 -- "Senior Whig official: Talks break down, independence dead."  (Laughter.)

So this is nothing new.  But even though the mainstream press gives me a hard time, I hear that I'm still pretty big on Twitter, Facebook -- or as Sarah Palin calls it, "the socialized media."  (Laughter.) 

Of course, that's not the only thing that we've been accused of socializing this year.  You might have heard we passed a health care bill and -- (applause.)  Is that Roger Ailes applauding out there?  (Laughter.)  Some Republicans have suggested that the bill contains a few secret provisions.  That's ridiculous.  There aren’t a few secret provisions in the health care plan -- there are, like, hundreds.  (Laughter.)

Tonight, in the interest of transparency, I'd like to share a couple.  Let's see -- this provision is called the Bay State of Denial.  It reads:  "This bill shall cover short-term memory loss related to the passage of Massachusetts health care reform."  So, good news, Mitt, your condition is covered.  (Laughter.)

This next provision is called the Jersey Shore-Up.  It reads:  "The following individuals shall be excluded from the indoor tanning tax within this bill."  Snooki, J-WOWW, the Situation, and House Minority Leader John Boehner.  (Laughter.)

This provision ought to put a common misperception to rest. It says right here:  "If you do not like the ruling of your death panel you can appeal."  (Laughter.)

Now, look, obviously I've learned this year politics can be a tough business, but there are times where you just can't help but laugh.  You know what really tickles me?  Eric Massa.  (Laughter.)  Apparently Massa claimed that Rahm came up to him one day in the House locker room, stark naked, started screaming obscenities at him -- to which I say, welcome to my world.  (Laughter.)  I feel you.  It's a tense moment.

You know, even as we enjoy each other's company tonight, we're also mindful of the incredible struggles of our fellow Americans in the Gulf Coast, both those leading the efforts to stem this crisis and those along the coast whose livelihoods are in jeopardy as a result of the spill. 

Also in our thoughts and prayers tonight are the men and women in uniform who put their lives at risk each and every day for our safety and freedom.  (Applause.)  So in that spirit, I'd also like to pay a tribute to the journalists who play an extraordinary role in telling their stories. 

Earlier today I gave the commencement address at Michigan, where I spoke to the graduates about what is required to keep out democracy thriving in the 21st century.  And one of the points I made is that for all the changes and challenges facing your industry, this country absolutely needs a healthy, vibrant media. 'Probably needs it more than ever now.

Today's technology -- (applause) -- today's technology has made it possible for us to get our news and information from a growing range of sources.  We can pick and choose not only our preferred type of media, but also our preferred perspective.  And while that exposes us to an unprecedented array of opinions, analysis, and points of view, it also makes it that much more important that we're all operating on a common baseline of facts. It makes it that much more important that journalists out there seek only the truth.

And I don't have to tell you that.  Some of you are seasoned veterans who have been on the political beat for decades; others here tonight began their careers as bloggers not long ago.  But I think it's fair to say that every single reporter in this room believes deeply in the enterprise of journalism.  Every one of you, even the most cynical among you, understands and cherishes the function of a free press and the preservation of our system of government and of our way of life.

And I want you to know that for all the jokes and the occasional gripes, I cherish that work, as well.  In fact, tonight I wanted to present all of you with a bipartisan congressional resolution that honors all those wonderful contributions that journalists have made to our country and the world -- but, unfortunately, I couldn't break the filibuster.  (Laughter.)   

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

END
10:21 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 01, 2010

Remarks by the President at University of Michigan Spring Commencement

Big House, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

11:40 A.M. EDT

     THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you very much.  Thank you, everybody.  Please be seated. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you!

THE PRESIDENT:  I love you back.  (Laughter.) 

It is great to be here in the Big House -- (applause) -- and so may I say, “Go Blue!”  (Applause.)  I thought I’d go for the cheap applause line to start things off.  (Laughter.) 

Good afternoon, President Coleman, the Board of Trustees, to faculty, parents, family and friends of the class of 2010.  (Applause.)  Congratulations on your graduation, and thank you for allowing me the honor of being a part of it.  (Applause.)    Let me acknowledge your wonderful governor, Jennifer Granholm; your mayor, John Hieftje; and all the members of Congress who are here today.  (Applause.) 
 
It is a privilege to be with you on this happy occasion, and, you know, it’s nice to spend a little time outside of Washington.  (Laughter.)  Now, don’t get me wrong -– Washington is a beautiful city.  It’s very nice living above the store; you can’t beat the commute.  (Laughter.)  It’s just sometimes all you hear in Washington is the clamor of politics.  And all that noise can drown out the voices of the people who sent you there.  So when I took office, I decided that each night I would read 10 letters out of the tens of thousands that are sent to us by ordinary Americans every day –- this is my modest effort to remind myself of why I ran in the first place. 

Some of these letters tell stories of heartache and struggle.  Some express gratitude, some express anger.  I'd say a good solid third call me an idiot -- (laughter) -- which is how I know that I’m getting a good, representative sample.  (Laughter and applause.)  Some of the letters make you think -- like the one that I received last month from a kindergarten class in Virginia. 

Now, the teacher of this class instructed the students to ask me any question they wanted.  So one asked, “How do you do your job?”  Another asked, “Do you work a lot?”  (Laughter.)    Somebody wanted to know if I wear a black jacket or if I have a beard –- (laughter) -- so clearly they were getting me mixed up with the other tall guy from Illinois.  (Laughter.)  And one of my favorites was from a kid who wanted to know if I lived next to a volcano.  (Laughter.)  I'm still trying to piece the thought process on this one.  (Laughter.)  Loved this letter.  

But it was the last question from the last student in the letter that gave me pause.  The student asked, “Are people being nice?”  Are people being nice? 

Well, if you turn on the news today, or yesterday, or a week ago, or a month ago –- particularly one of the cable channels -– (laughter) -- you can see why even a kindergartener would ask this question.  (Laughter.)  We’ve got politicians calling each other all sorts of unflattering names.  Pundits and talking heads shout at each other.  The media tends to play up every hint of conflict, because it makes for a sexier story -– which means anyone interested in getting coverage feels compelled to make their arguments as outrageous and as incendiary as possible.

Now, some of this contentiousness can be attributed to the incredibly difficult moment in which we find ourselves as a nation.  The fact is, when you leave here today you will search for work in an economy that is still emerging from the worst crisis since the Great Depression.  You live in a century where the speed with which jobs and industries move across the globe is forcing America to compete like never before.  You will raise your children at a time when threats like terrorism and climate change aren’t confined within the borders of any one country.  And as our world grows smaller and more connected, you will live and work with more people who don’t look like you or think like you or come from where you do. 

I really enjoyed Alex’s remarks because that's a lot of change.  And all these changes, all these challenges, inevitably cause some tension in the body politic.  They make people worry about the future and sometimes they get people riled up. 

But I think it’s important that we maintain some historic perspective.  Since the days of our founding, American politics has never been a particularly nice business.  It’s always been a little less gentile during times of great change.  A newspaper of the opposing party once editorialized that if Thomas Jefferson were elected, “Murder, robbery, rape, adultery, and incest will be openly taught and practiced.”  (Laughter.)  Not subtle.  Opponents of Andrew Jackson often referred to his mother as a “common prostitute,” which seems a little over the top.  (Laughter.)  Presidents from Teddy Roosevelt to Lyndon Johnson have been accused of promoting socialism, or worse.  And we’ve had arguments between politicians that have been settled with actual duels.  There was even a caning once on the floor of the United States Senate -– which I’m happy to say didn’t happen while I was there.  (Laughter.)  It was a few years before.  (Laughter.)   

The point is, politics has never been for the thin-skinned or the faint-of-heart, and if you enter the arena, you should expect to get roughed up.  Moreover, democracy in a nation of more than 300 million people is inherently difficult.  It’s always been noisy and messy, contentious, complicated.  We’ve been fighting about the proper size and role of government since the day the Framers gathered in Philadelphia.  We’ve battled over the meaning of individual freedom and equality since the Bill of Rights was drafted.  As our economy has shifted emphasis from agriculture to industry, to information, to technology, we have argued and struggled at each and every juncture over the best way to ensure that all of our citizens have a shot at opportunity.

So before we get too depressed about the current state of our politics, let’s remember our history.  The great debates of the past all stirred great passions.  They all made somebody angry, and at least once led to a terrible war.  What is amazing is that despite all the conflict, despite all its flaws and its frustrations, our experiment in democracy has worked better than any form of government on Earth.  (Applause.)  

On the last day of the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was famously asked, “Well, Doctor, what have we got -– a republic or a monarchy?”  And Franklin gave an answer that’s been quoted for ages:  He said, “A republic, if you can keep it.”  If you can keep it. 

Well, for more than 200 years, we have kept it.  Through revolution and civil war, our democracy has survived.  Through depression and world war, it has prevailed.  Through periods of great social and economic unrest, from civil rights to women’s rights, it has allowed us slowly, sometimes painfully, to move towards a more perfect union.

And so now, class of 2010, the question for your generation is this:  How will you keep our democracy going?  At a moment when our challenges seem so big and our politics seem so small, how will you keep our democracy alive and vibrant; how will you keep it well in this century?

I’m not here to offer some grand theory or detailed policy prescription.  But let me offer a few brief reflections based on my own experiences and the experiences of our country over the last two centuries.

First of all, American democracy has thrived because we have recognized the need for a government that, while limited, can still help us adapt to a changing world.  On the fourth panel of the Jefferson Memorial is a quote I remember reading to my daughters during our first visit there.  It says, “I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but...with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times.”

The democracy designed by Jefferson and the other founders was never intended to solve every problem with a new law or a new program.  Having thrown off the tyranny of the British Empire, the first Americans were understandably skeptical of government. And ever since we’ve held fast to the belief that government doesn’t have all the answers, and we have cherished and fiercely defended our individual freedom.  That’s a strand of our nation’s DNA. 

But the other strand is the belief that there are some things we can only do together, as one nation -– and that our government must keep pace with the times.  When America expanded from a few colonies to an entire continent, and we needed a way to reach the Pacific, our government helped build the railroads. When we transitioned from an economy based on farms to one based on factories, and workers needed new skills and training, our nation set up a system of public high schools.  When the markets crashed during the Depression and people lost their life savings, our government put in place a set of rules and safeguards to make sure that such a crisis never happened again, and then put a safety net in place to make sure that our elders would never be impoverished the way they had been.  And because our markets and financial systems have evolved since then, we’re now putting in place new rules and safeguards to protect the American people.  (Applause.)   

Now, this notion -- this notion, class, hasn’t always been partisan.  It was the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, who said the role of government is to do for the people what they cannot do better for themselves.  And he’d go on to begin that first intercontinental railroad and set up the first land-grant colleges.  It was another Republican, Teddy Roosevelt, who said, “the object of government is the welfare of the people.”  And he’s remembered for using the power of government to break up monopolies, and establish our National Park system.  (Applause.)  Democrat Lyndon Johnson announced the Great Society during a commencement here at Michigan, but it was the Republican President before him, Dwight Eisenhower, who launched the massive government undertaking known as the Interstate Highway System.  

Of course, there have always been those who’ve opposed such efforts.  They argue government intervention is usually inefficient; that it restricts individual freedom and dampens individual initiative.  And in certain instances, that’s been true.  For many years, we had a welfare system that too often discouraged people from taking responsibility for their own upward mobility.  At times, we’ve neglected the role of parents, rather than government, in cultivating a child’s education.  And sometimes regulation fails, and sometimes their benefits don’t justify their costs.

But what troubles me is when I hear people say that all of government is inherently bad.  One of my favorite signs during the health care debate was somebody who said, “Keep Your Government Hands Out Of My Medicare” -- (laughter) -- which is essentially saying “Keep Government Out Of My Government-Run Health Care Plan.”  (Laughter.) 

When our government is spoken of as some menacing, threatening foreign entity, it ignores the fact that in our democracy, government is us.  We, the people -- (applause.)  We, the people, hold in our hands the power to choose our leaders and change our laws, and shape our own destiny. 

Government is the police officers who are protecting our communities, and the servicemen and women who are defending us abroad.  (Applause.)  Government is the roads you drove in on and the speed limits that kept you safe.  Government is what ensures that mines adhere to safety standards and that oil spills are cleaned up by the companies that caused them.  (Applause.)    Government is this extraordinary public university -– a place that’s doing lifesaving research, and catalyzing economic growth, and graduating students who will change the world around them in ways big and small.  (Applause.)   

The truth is, the debate we’ve had for decades now between more government and less government, it doesn’t really fit the times in which we live.  We know that too much government can stifle competition and deprive us of choice and burden us with debt.  But we’ve also clearly seen the dangers of too little government -– like when a lack of accountability on Wall Street nearly leads to the collapse of our entire economy.  (Applause.)
 
So, class of 2010, what we should be asking is not whether we need “big government” or a “small government,” but how we can create a smarter and better government.  (Applause.)  Because in an era of iPods and Tivo, where we have more choices than ever before -- even though I can't really work a lot of these things  -- (laughter) -- but I have 23-year-olds who do it for me -- (laughter) --  government shouldn’t try to dictate your lives.  But it should give you the tools you need to succeed.  Government shouldn’t try to guarantee results, but it should guarantee a shot at opportunity for every American who’s willing to work hard.  (Applause.)   

So, yes, we can and should debate the role of government in our lives.  But remember, as you are asked to meet the challenges of our time, remember that the ability for us to adapt our government to the needs of the age has helped make our democracy work since its inception. 

Now, the second way to keep our democracy healthy is to maintain a basic level of civility in our public debate.  (Applause.)  These arguments we’re having over government and health care and war and taxes -- these are serious arguments.  They should arouse people’s passions, and it’s important for everybody to join in the debate, with all the vigor that the maintenance of a free people requires. 

But we can’t expect to solve our problems if all we do is tear each other down.  (Applause.)  You can disagree with a certain policy without demonizing the person who espouses it.  You can question somebody’s views and their judgment without questioning their motives or their patriotism.  (Applause.)    Throwing around phrases like “socialists” and “Soviet-style takeover” and “fascist” and “right-wing nut” -- (laughter) -- that may grab headlines, but it also has the effect of comparing our government, our political opponents, to authoritarian, even murderous regimes.

Now, we’ve seen this kind of politics in the past.  It’s been practiced by both fringes of the ideological spectrum, by the left and the right, since our nation’s birth.  But it’s starting to creep into the center of our discourse.  And the problem with it is not the hurt feelings or the bruised egos of the public officials who are criticized.  Remember, they signed up for it.  Michelle always reminds me of that.  (Laughter.)  The problem is that this kind of vilification and over-the-top rhetoric closes the door to the possibility of compromise.  It undermines democratic deliberation.  It prevents learning –- since, after all, why should we listen to a “fascist,” or a “socialist,” or a “right-wing nut,” or a left-wing nut”?  (Laughter.) 

It makes it nearly impossible for people who have legitimate but bridgeable differences to sit down at the same table and hash things out.  It robs us of a rational and serious debate, the one we need to have about the very real and very big challenges facing this nation.  It coarsens our culture, and at its worst, it can send signals to the most extreme elements of our society that perhaps violence is a justifiable response. 

So what do we do?  As I found out after a year in the White House, changing this type of politics is not easy.  And part of what civility requires is that we recall the simple lesson most of us learned from our parents:  Treat others as you would like to be treated, with courtesy and respect.  (Applause.)  But civility in this age also requires something more than just asking if we can’t just all get along. 

Today’s 24/7 echo-chamber amplifies the most inflammatory soundbites louder and faster than ever before.  And it’s also, however, given us unprecedented choice.  Whereas most Americans used to get their news from the same three networks over dinner, or a few influential papers on Sunday morning, we now have the option to get our information from any number of blogs or websites or cable news shows.  And this can have both a good and bad development for democracy.  For if we choose only to expose ourselves to opinions and viewpoints that are in line with our own, studies suggest that we become more polarized, more set in our ways.  That will only reinforce and even deepen the political divides in this country. 

But if we choose to actively seek out information that challenges our assumptions and our beliefs, perhaps we can begin to understand where the people who disagree with us are coming from. 

Now, this requires us to agree on a certain set of facts to debate from.  That’s why we need a vibrant and thriving news business that is separate from opinion makers and talking heads. (Applause.)  That’s why we need an educated citizenry that values hard evidence and not just assertion.  (Applause.)  As Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously once said, “Everybody is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.”  (Laughter.)
 
Still, if you’re somebody who only reads the editorial page of The New York Times, try glancing at the page of The Wall Street Journal once in a while.  If you’re a fan of Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh, try reading a few columns on the Huffington Post website.  It may make your blood boil; your mind may not be changed.  But the practice of listening to opposing views is essential for effective citizenship.  (Applause.)  It is essential for our democracy.  (Applause.)   

And so, too, is the practice of engaging in different experiences with different kinds of people.  I look out at this class and I realize for four years at Michigan you have been exposed to diverse thinkers and scholars, professors and students.  Don’t narrow that broad intellectual exposure just because you’re leaving here.  Instead, seek to expand it.  If you grew up in a big city, spend some time with somebody who grew up in a rural town.  If you find yourself only hanging around with people of your own race or ethnicity or religion, include people in your circle who have different backgrounds and life experiences.  You’ll learn what it’s like to walk in somebody else’s shoes, and in the process, you will help to make this democracy work.  (Applause.)   

Which brings me to the last ingredient in a functioning democracy, one that's perhaps most basic -- and it’s already been mentioned -- and that is participation. 

Class of 2010, I understand that one effect of today’s poisonous political climate is to push people away from participation in public life.  If all you see when you turn on the TV is name-calling, if all you hear about is how special interest lobbying and partisanship prevented Washington from getting something done, you might think to yourself, “What’s the point of getting involved?”

Here’s the point.  When we don’t pay close attention to the decisions made by our leaders, when we fail to educate ourselves about the major issues of the day, when we choose not to make our voices and opinions heard, that’s when democracy breaks down.  That’s when power is abused.  That’s when the most extreme voices in our society fill the void that we leave.  That’s when powerful interests and their lobbyists are most able to buy access and influence in the corridors of power –- because none of us are there to speak up and stop them. 

Participation in public life doesn’t mean that you all have to run for public office -– though we could certainly use some fresh faces in Washington.  (Laughter and applause.)  But it does mean that you should pay attention and contribute in any way that you can.  Stay informed.  Write letters, or make phone calls on behalf of an issue you care about.  If electoral politics isn’t your thing, continue the tradition so many of you started here at Michigan and find a way to serve your community and your country –- an act that will help you stay connected to your fellow citizens and improve the lives of those around you. 

It was 50 years ago that a young candidate for president came here to Michigan and delivered a speech that inspired one of the most successful service projects in American history.  And as John F. Kennedy described the ideals behind what would become the Peace Corps, he issued a challenge to the students who had assembled in Ann Arbor on that October night:  “on your willingness to contribute part of your life to this country,” he said, will depend the answer whether a free society can compete. I think it can,” he said. 

This democracy we have is a precious thing.  For all the arguments and all the doubts and all the cynicism that’s out there today, we should never forget that as Americans, we enjoy more freedoms and opportunities than citizens in any other nation on Earth.  (Applause.)  We are free to speak our mind and worship as we please.  We are free to choose our leaders, and criticize them if they let us down.  We have the chance to get an education, and work hard, and give our children a better life.

None of this came easy.  None of this was preordained.  The men and women who sat in your chairs 10 years ago and 50 years ago and 100 years ago –- they made America possible through their toil and their endurance and their imagination and their faith.  Their success, and America’s success, was never a given.  And there is no guarantee that the graduates who will sit in these same seats 10 years from now, or 50 years from now, or 100 years from now, will enjoy the same freedoms and opportunities that you do.  You, too, will have to strive.  You, too, will have to push the boundaries of what seems possible.  For the truth is, our nation’s destiny has never been certain.

What is certain -– what has always been certain -– is the ability to shape that destiny.  That is what makes us different. That is what sets us apart.  That is what makes us Americans -– our ability at the end of the day to look past all of our differences and all of our disagreements and still forge a common future.  That task is now in your hands, as is the answer to the question posed at this university half a century ago about whether a free society can still compete.   

If you are willing, as past generations were willing, to contribute part of your life to the life of this country, then I, like President Kennedy, believe we can.  Because I believe in you.  (Applause.)   

Congratulations on your graduation, 2010.  May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.  Thank you. (Applause.)   

                                         END               12:11 P.M. EDT

 

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
April 29, 2010

Remarks by the First Lady at Congressional Service Event

Marie Reed Community Learning Center
Washington, D.C.

2:55 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Look, there’s not much more I need to say.  Rachel, Dayo both did just an outstanding job in laying out the organizations that are working with us today, the schools.  These are valuable initiatives.  We’ve already done a great job highlighting them, but it’s just wonderful to have the opportunity to get my colleagues, my friends, my peers at the Congressional Club, the spouses, here seeing what’s going on, being able to bring the press and the media to highlight the good work that's being done.  So I want to thank you all for the work that you did to pull this together in a fairly short period of time. 

We have a relationship, but creating a mural and organizing a group of well-intentioned but not necessarily artistic people -- (laughter) -- to do -- to entrust us with your walls is -- it’s a huge risk to take.  And we’re honored to be a part of it.

I want to thank Rachel and Rocco for their leadership, their commitment.  They’ve been -- both been true assets to this nation and to the White House.  They’ve provided us with the backbone we need to open up the White House to make it a place for all folks to celebrate culture and arts and all forms of important expression.  We have a lot more to do, but you all have been just terrific.

So Lynsey and Ed, you guys are doing some phenomenal work.  It was wonderful to have you at the White House for the Coming Up Taller Awards, and all my kids who were there, as well.  It’s good for me to get out here and see what you’re doing.

But we’re very excited to be here.  We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my folks -- my fellow folks at the Congressional Club, all the spouses.  We had an opportunity to spend a wonderful lunch yesterday.  It was just a truly special afternoon and it’s so good that everyone has made a commitment to step out of our tea dresses and away from the crystal and to roll up our sleeves and be ready to paint and to get a little dirty.

It’s important, so important, not just to me but to the community to have us out here; for our kids to see that we not only care about them, which we do -- we are so proud of you all and we want the world to see you all and understand your potential, to see grade point averages go from 2.0 to 3-point-who-knows-what.  We are so proud and we want to keep lifting you up and showing other kids that these opportunities are available.

But you all also do us a big favor, too.  You give us a real good excuse to get out in beautiful weather, to kind of be silly with you all, and we get to know one another a lot better through these projects and these initiatives. 

All of the congressional spouses are committed in some way to service.  Many of them are doing something important in some way, shape or form in their own states, in their own districts.  The fact that they’re willing to take even more time out to come to the District and to learn more about what’s going on and to roll up their sleeves is just a testament to their courage, to their commitment and to their belief in you all, these community organizations and schools and students, and a belief in the, you know, just the beauty of this country and all that we have to offer.

These walls were blank.  I saw the pictures.  You all have been working really hard.  It looks beautiful.  And I think the end result is that every wall, I understand, including the retaining walls, are going to be just full of color. 

And this project is not only important for the school, but it’s also important for the community, and so many of these organizations have worked to beautify this area; to be a part of the reinvigoration of a neighborhood that needs the support of us all.  And this is just another project that's going to add a little brightness to a community that is growing and developing every single day.

So thank you all for taking the time.  I’m ready to get my paintbrush and get started.  And I'll make sure I get around to everybody to say hello before I go, but I got to work first.  (Laughter.)  So thank you all.  Thanks again.  (Applause.)

END
3:00 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 29, 2010

Remarks by the President in the Rose Garden

1:54 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  Hello, everybody.  Please have a seat.  Welcome to the White House.  Welcome to the Rose Garden.  This is an extraordinary occasion, a beautiful day -- appropriately so.  So I hate to intrude on it, but before we begin I do want to speak briefly to the American people about the recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

I've been receiving frequent briefings from members of my Cabinet and White House staff, including an update last night on the additional breach and another update this morning.  And while BP is ultimately responsible for funding the cost of response and cleanup operations, my administration will continue to use every single available resource at our disposal, including potentially the Department of Defense, to address the incident.

Earlier today, DHS Secretary Napolitano announced that this incident is of national significance and the Department of Interior has announced that they will be sending SWAT teams to the Gulf to inspect all platforms and rigs.  And I have ordered the Secretaries of Interior and Homeland Security as well as Administrator Lisa Jackson of the Environmental Protection Agency to visit the site on Friday to ensure that BP and the entire U.S. government is doing everything possible, not just to respond to this incident, but also to determine its cause.  And I've been in contact with all the governors of the states that may be affected by this accident.

Now, earlier this week, Secretaries Napolitano and Salazar laid out the next steps for a thorough investigation into what precipitated this event.  I am sure there may be a few science teachers here who have been following this issue closely with their classes, and if you guys have any suggestions, please let us know.  (Laughter.)

That's the real reason why all of you are here, because you are great teachers, engaging your students in the world around you.  So I want to start by congratulating all of you for your extraordinary achievement.  We could not be prouder.  And I had occasion to meet each and every one individually -- you could not ask for a better bunch.  And it made me want to go back to school.  (Laughter.)  Maybe not take the exams, but -- (laughter) -- but you could just tell these are people who love their work. 

I want to acknowledge our wonderful Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan --(applause) -- who is your biggest booster, day in and day out -- as well as my good friend, and a teacher herself, Dr. Jill Biden, who is here.  (Applause.) 

I also want to thank Senator Harkin, Representative Boswell, and Dennis Van Roekel, President of the National Education Association, for their leadership and for joining us here today. (Applause.) 

So to all the award winners -– congratulations.  We are thrilled to have you in what has been a long tradition here at the White House.  For nearly six decades, through 12 presidential administrations, we’ve gathered here to honor America’s teachers and to celebrate your contribution to the life of our country.  And we do this because we recognize the role that you play in sustaining our democracy -– in creating the informed citizenry and engaged leaders that we need for our government, a government of and by and for the people. 

And we do this because you’re the key to our success in the global economy -– preparing our kids to compete at a time when a nation’s most valuable currency is the knowledge and skills of its people.   And we do this because the impact you’ve had on all of our lives:  pushing us, believing in us, insisting -– sometimes, despite all evidence to the contrary -– that we have potential and that we have something worthy to contribute. 

As President Kennedy once said, “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education… The human mind is our fundamental resource.”  And it’s all of you who we entrust every day with that resource and that responsibility. 

And that’s why as President, I’m committed to doing every single thing that I can do to support your work -– to create better standards and assessments that you can use in your classrooms; to make critical investments in education at every level, from early childhood education through college; and to recruit and develop and reward excellent teachers. 

And it’s why, through our recovery efforts, we’ve provided emergency aid that saved the jobs of more than 400,000 teachers and other education jobs -– and why I believe these efforts must continue.  (Applause.)  I believe these efforts must continue as states face severe budget shortfalls that put hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk.  We need and our children need our teachers in the classroom.  We need your passion and your patience, your skill and experience, your determination to reach every single child -- the very qualities that define this year’s Teacher of the Year, Sarah Brown Wessling, from Johnson High School in Johnson, Iowa.  So, congratulations, Sarah.  (Applause.)

Whether teaching basic writing to at-risk freshmen, or literary theory to advanced placement seniors, Sarah writes:  “I see a story in every learner, unique and yearning to be read.”

That’s why she creates individualized podcasts for each student with extensive feedback on their papers, prompting one parent to report that his own writing had improved just by listening to Sarah’s comments to her daughter -- to his daughter. (Laughter.)

Sarah also helped develop 15 new courses this year alone, taking into account a wide array of interests and learning styles.  And her students don’t just write five-paragraph essays, but they write songs, public service announcements, film storyboards, even grant proposals for their own non-for-profit organizations. 

One of her students reports that in Sarah’s class, “No discussion was fruitless, no assignment was pointless, and not one day was boring.”  And I’m not sure I could have said that when I was in school.  (Laughter.)   

And all of this is in addition to her work mentoring other teachers, organizing a statewide teaching symposium, helping design Iowa’s core curriculum, serving as president of the Iowa Council of Teachers of English, and much more. 

Slow down.  (Laughter.)  Plus she’s got these three cute kids in front.  (Laughter.)

With Sarah as a teacher, good students have become great students.  Student who had been discouraged and disengaged have discovered a passion for learning.  And many of her students have gone on to become teachers themselves, one of the best tributes any teacher could ask for.

In her application essay, Sarah wrote movingly about the achievements of several of her students, describing the transformation of one student as follows:  “Instead of asking what, she asked why; instead of asking why, she asked, why not; instead of asking why not, she asked what if.”

In honoring Sarah Brown Wessling and all of you, we also honor all those teachers across America who inspire students to ask “what if?” -– who enrich their lives and their prospects every single day. 

But let’s be clear -– I think all the teachers here would agree with me this is not the responsibility of teachers alone.  Our teachers can prepare the best lesson plans imaginable, but you all can’t guarantee that your students will show up ready to learn.  You can be there for them before school, after school, and during lunch, but you can’t be there at night to make sure those assignments get done, or in the morning to make sure they’re out of bed and to school on time.  You can give your students all the encouragement in the world, but you can’t give them the constant support and unconditional love that they need to succeed. 

All of that is our job as parents.  So today, even as we honor America’s teachers, let’s not forget that we all have a responsibility to educate our children.  It is not just the job of schools, it’s not just the job of teachers, but it’s the job of our parents, it’s the job of our communities, our places of worship.  The message that we send, in terms of our children being curious and active and aspiring for excellence -- that’s a job that all of us have to take on.  (Applause.) 

So let’s turn off the TV.  Let’s put away the video games. Let’s read to our kids once in a while.  Let’s make sure that homework is done, and that they get a good night’s sleep and a decent breakfast.  Let’s reach out to their teachers and ask what we can do to help.  Let’s be partners with teachers to prepare our kids to lead productive, fulfilling lives. 

In the end, I think Sarah put it best when she wrote, simply, “My greatest contributions are my students.”  That’s true of us as a society as well –- that our greatest contribution is what we do for the next generation:  the sacrifices we make, the examples that we set, and all that we do to give them opportunities that we never dreamed of.

All of you have dedicated your lives to that work, and for that, we honor you and we thank you, today and every day.  Congratulations, everybody. 

And it’s now my pleasure to introduce the 2010 Teacher of the Year, Sarah Brown Wessling, and invite her to say a few words.  But first I’m going to give her the apple.  (Applause.) 

(The award is presented.)  (Applause.) 

END
2:06 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 29, 2010

Remarks by the President at Funeral Service for Dr. Dorothy Height

Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.

10:40 A.M.  EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Please be seated.  Let me begin by saying a word to Dr. Dorothy Height’s sister, Ms. Aldridge.  To some, she was a mentor.  To all, she was a friend.  But to you, she was family, and my family offers yours our sympathy for your loss. 

We are gathered here today to celebrate the life, and mourn the passing, of Dr. Dorothy Height.  It is fitting that we do so here, in our National Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.  Here, in a place of great honor.  Here, in the House of God.  Surrounded by the love of family and of friends.  The love in this sanctuary is a testament to a life lived righteously; a life that lifted other lives; a life that changed this country for the better over the course of nearly one century here on Earth. 

Michelle and I didn’t know Dr. Height as well, or as long, as many of you.  We were reminded during a previous moment in the service, when you have a nephew who’s 88 -- (laughter) -- you’ve lived a full life.  (Applause.) 

But we did come to know her in the early days of my campaign.  And we came to love her, as so many loved her.  We came to love her stories.  And we loved her smile.  And we loved those hats -- (laughter) -- that she wore like a crown -- regal.  In the White House, she was a regular.  She came by not once, not twice -- 21 times she stopped by the White House.  (Laughter and applause.)  Took part in our discussions around health care reform in her final months.  

Last February, I was scheduled to see her and other civil rights leaders to discuss the pressing problems of unemployment -- Reverend Sharpton, Ben Jealous of the NAACP, Marc Morial of the National Urban League.  Then we discovered that Washington was about to be blanketed by the worst blizzard in record -- two feet of snow. 

So I suggested to one of my aides, we should call   Dr. Height and say we're happy to reschedule the meeting.  Certainly if the others come, she should not feel obliged. True to form, Dr. Height insisted on coming, despite the blizzard, never mind that she was in a wheelchair.  She was not about to let just a bunch of men -- (laughter) -- in this meeting.  (Applause.)  It was only when the car literally could not get to her driveway that she reluctantly decided to stay home.  But she still sent a message -- (laughter) -- about what needed to be done. 

And I tell that story partly because it brings a smile to my face, but also because it captures the quiet, dogged, dignified persistence that all of us who loved Dr. Height came to know so well -- an attribute that we understand she learned early on. 

Born in the capital of the old Confederacy, brought north by her parents as part of that great migration, Dr. Height was raised in another age, in a different America, beyond the experience of many.  It’s hard to imagine, I think, life in the first decades of that last century when the elderly woman that we knew was only a girl.  Jim Crow ruled the South.  The Klan was on the rise -- a powerful political force.  Lynching was all too often the penalty for the offense of black skin.  Slaves had been freed within living memory, but too often, their children, their grandchildren remained captive, because they were denied justice and denied equality, denied opportunity, denied a chance to pursue their dreams. 

The progress that followed -- progress that so many of you helped to achieve, progress that ultimately made it possible for Michelle and me to be here as President and First Lady -- that progress came slowly.  (Applause.)

Progress came from the collective effort of multiple generations of Americans.  From preachers and lawyers, and thinkers and doers, men and women like Dr. Height, who took it upon themselves -- often at great risk -- to change this country for the better.  From men like W.E.B Du Bois and A. Philip Randolph; women like Mary McLeod Bethune and Betty Friedan -- they’re Americans whose names we know.  They are leaders whose legacies we teach.  They are giants who fill our history books.  Well, Dr. Dorothy Height deserves a place in this pantheon.  She, too, deserves a place in our history books.  (Applause.)  She, too, deserves a place of honor in America’s memory.

Look at her body of work.  Desegregating the YWCA.  Laying the groundwork for integration on Wednesdays in Mississippi.  Lending pigs to poor farmers as a sustainable source of income.  Strategizing with civil rights leaders, holding her own, the only woman in the room, Queen Esther to this Moses Generation -- even as she led the National Council of Negro Women with vision and energy -- (applause) -- with vision and energy, vision and class. 

But we remember her not solely for all she did during the civil rights movement.  We remember her for all she did over a lifetime, behind the scenes, to broaden the movement’s reach.  To shine a light on stable families and tight-knit communities.  To make us see the drive for civil rights and women’s rights not as a separate struggle, but as part of a larger movement to secure the rights of all humanity, regardless of gender, regardless of race, regardless of ethnicity.

It’s an unambiguous record of righteous work, worthy of remembrance, worthy of recognition.  And yet, one of the ironies is, is that year after year, decade in, decade out, Dr. Height went about her work quietly, without fanfare, without self-promotion.  She never cared about who got the credit.  She didn’t need to see her picture in the papers.  She understood that the movement gathered strength from the bottom up, those unheralded men and women who don't always make it into the history books but who steadily insisted on their dignity, on their manhood and womanhood.  (Applause.)  She wasn’t interested in credit.  What she cared about was the cause.  The cause of justice.  The cause of equality.  The cause of opportunity.  Freedom’s cause. 

And that willingness to subsume herself, that humility and that grace, is why we honor Dr. Dorothy Height.  As it is written in the Gospel of Matthew:  “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”  I don’t think the author of the Gospel would mind me rephrasing:  “whoever humbles herself will be exalted.”  (Applause.)

One of my favorite moments with Dr. Height -- this was just a few months ago -- we had decided to put up the Emancipation Proclamation in the Oval Office, and we invited some elders to share reflections of the movement.  And she came and it was a inter-generational event, so we had young children there, as well as elders, and the elders were asked to share stories.  And she talked about attending a dinner in the 1940s at the home of Dr. Benjamin Mays, then president of Morehouse College.  And seated at the table that evening was a 15-year-old student, “a gifted child,” as she described him, filled with a sense of purpose, who was trying to decide whether to enter medicine, or law, or the ministry. 

And many years later, after that gifted child had become a gifted preacher -- I’m sure he had been told to be on his best behavior -- after he led a bus boycott in Montgomery, and inspired a nation with his dreams, he delivered a sermon on what he called “the drum major instinct” -- a sermon that said we all have the desire to be first, we all want to be at the front of the line. 

The great test of a life, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, is to harness that instinct; to redirect it towards advancing the greater good; toward changing a community and a country for the better; toward doing the Lord’s work.

I sometimes think Dr. King must have had Dorothy Height in mind when he gave that speech.  For Dorothy Height met the test.  Dorothy Height embodied that instinct.  Dorothy Height was a drum major for justice.  A drum major for equality.  A drum major for freedom.  A drum major for service.  And the lesson she would want us to leave with today -- a lesson she lived out each and every day -- is that we can all be first in service.  We can all be drum majors for a righteous cause.  So let us live out that lesson.  Let us honor her life by changing this country for the better as long as we are blessed to live.  May God bless Dr. Dorothy Height and the union that she made more perfect.  (Applause.)

END
10:54 A.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 28, 2010

Remarks by the President to the Travel Pool Aboard Air Force One

Aboard Air Force One, En Route Andrews Air Force Base

6:52 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  I am very pleased that the United States Senate has decided to proceed to the financial regulatory bill by unanimous consent.  It is the right thing to do.  And I want to reiterate what I said earlier, that this shouldn’t have to be a partisan issue.  Republicans, Democrats, independents -- everybody was hurt by the crisis on Wall Street.  It is something that we can prevent with some better rules of the road, and I hope that we can get this done quickly, reconcile it with the work that was done over on the House side, and that I can sign this bill into law very soon.  But I want to congratulate the Senate on making progress on an issue that’s vital to everybody in the country.

All right?
   
Q    Sir, Goldman Sachs says that they didn’t do anything wrong with their past dealings during the hearings.  Do you have any response to that?

THE PRESIDENT:  I don’t want to comment on a pending case that’s been brought by an independent agency.  I will say that I think most Americans would say that some of the behavior generally on Wall Street, even if it’s legal, doesn’t seem to serve much of an economic purpose and puts, as we’ve discovered, the entire economy at risk, and that the more that we get -- make sure there’s transparency, openness, clarity about how the financial system is working; the more that we have, for example, higher capital requirements, less leverage in the system -- it may be a little boring and may reduce bonuses for some of the players on Wall Street, but we’ll end up having a safer, more secure financial system, and I think banks and other financial institutions can get back to making money the old-fashioned way, which is by lending it to companies to build businesses and create jobs and do all the things that we want our financial system to do.

Q    Mr. President, can the administration do something to mitigate the effects of the Arizona immigration law?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, we’re examining it now.  But as I said at that town hall meeting yesterday, I understand people’s frustrations about the border.  If you’ve got hundreds of thousands of people coming in, not playing by the rules, that’s a problem.  And the federal government has been abdicating on its responsibilities for a very long time on this issue.

That’s why I’ve called for comprehensive immigration reform, and I want that to proceed, and I want it to be done on a bipartisan basis.

What I think is a mistake is when we start having local law enforcement officials empowered to stop people on the suspicion that they may be undocumented workers, because that carries a great amount of risk that core values that we all care about are breached.

And it’s not just -- this isn’t just my opinion.  You’ve seen a number of very prominent Republicans say that this is a problem.

So I understand the frustration of people in Arizona and the border states.  We’ve ramped up border security.  We’ve put in a lot of resources since I’ve become President.  Our enforcement actions are up.  And in fact, I’ve been attacked by immigration-rights groups for being too tough on that front.  But obviously we’ve still got to do more, we have to do more, though, on the context of a comprehensive plan that maintains our status as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.  And these kinds of shortcuts, I think, will end up polarizing the situation instead of solving the problem.

Q    Is this one of the issues that’s coming up in your discussions with some of the potential Supreme Court nominees?

THE PRESIDENT:  Is?

Q    Is immigration and the Arizona law something that’s coming up in your discussions with possible nominees?

THE PRESIDENT:  I never ask Supreme Court nominees about specific cases that might go before them.  I talked about their broader judicial philosophy.

Q    Are you committed to pushing forward on immigration law this year?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I’ve made calls to Republicans to see if we can get them to join us.  This is a difficult issue.  It generates a lot of emotions, and the politics are difficult.  But I’ve been unwavering in saying what we need to do.  I think that I can get a majority of Democrats to support a comprehensive approach.  But I need some help on the Republican side.  We had that kind of help a couple of years ago.  Senator McCain was one of the leaders in that process.  I gave him a lot of credit for it, and still do.

And so the question is, can we get some movement on that front?  Lindsey Graham has been in serious conversations with Senator Schumer.  I appreciate his courage on that.  And my hope is, is that we can get a working group that can move this forward so that we’ve got serious legislation that solves the border problem and solves the wide range of issues that we face under immigration reform in a way that can garner the support of the American people.

You notice in the town hall meeting yesterday, those folks aren’t enthusiastic about illegal immigration.  But when you lay it out for them, a sensible way of doing it, holding people who’ve broken the law responsible, securing our borders but also recognizing we’re not going to send millions of people back, many of whom have children who might be U.S. citizens, and that there should be a more sensible way of dealing with it -- people understand that. 

So it’s a matter of political will.  Now, look, we’ve gone through a very tough year, and I’ve been working Congress pretty hard.  So I know there may not be an appetite immediately to dive into another controversial issue.  There’s still work that has to be done on energy.  Midterms are coming up.  So I don’t want us to do something just for the sake of politics that doesn’t solve the problem.  I want us to get together, get the best ideas on both sides, work this through, and when it’s ready to go, let’s move.  But I think we need to start a process at least to open up a smarter, better discussion than the one that is raging right now.

Okay?  One more.  I’ll give him the last question since this is his first ride on the plane.

Q    Senator Leahy has been talking a lot about conservative judicial activism, and I wonder if you see that as a frame through which the new Supreme Court nomination and confirmation will be considered.  You’ve talked about understanding the --

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I mean, here’s what I will say.  It used to be that the notion of an activist judge was somebody who ignored the will of Congress, ignored democratic processes, and tried to impose judicial solutions on problems instead of letting the process work itself through politically.  And in the ‘60s and
‘70s, the feeling was, is that liberals were guilty of that kind of approach.

What you’re now seeing, I think, is a conservative jurisprudence that oftentimes makes the same error.  And I think rather than a notion of judicial restraint we should apply both to liberals and conservative jurists, what you’re seeing is arguments about original intent and other legal theories that end up giving judges an awful lot of power; in fact, sometimes more power than duly-elected representatives.

And so I’m not looking at this particular judicial nomination through that prism alone, but I think it is important for us to understand that judicial -- the concept of judicial restraint cuts both ways.  And the core understanding of judicial restraint is, is that generally speaking, we should presume that the democratic processes and laws that are produced by the House and the Senate and state legislatures, et cetera, that the administrative process that goes with it is afforded some deference as long as core constitutional values are observed.

But that in and of itself is not the only criteria by which I’m making selections on judges.

All right?  Thank you, guys.

Q    How do you think the trip went?  How did the trip go?   

THE PRESIDENT:  I thought it was fun.  I thought it was great.  And it was a reminder that sometimes there’s a mismatch between the way politics are portrayed in Washington and how people are feeling.

I think it’s a less toxic atmosphere, where people are genuinely concerned about jobs, or they’ve got serious questions about how the new health care bill is going to work or what’s happening with immigration or other issues.  But generally I think what people are looking for is that their elected officials think about them first and foremost and are working hard.  And they realize that some of these problems are hard, that they’re not going to be solved overnight.  They just want to make sure that we’re working on their behalf and not on behalf of either some ideological agenda or special interest in Washington.  So I really enjoyed it.  It took me back to my start in politics.

All right, guys.

END
7:03 P.M. EDT