The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 21, 2009

Remarks by the President at Corzine for Governor Rally

Fairleigh Dickinson University, Hackensack, New Jersey

6:17 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, New Jersey!  (Applause.)  It's good to be back in the Garden State!  (Applause.) 

AUDIENCE:  Obama!  Obama!  Obama!  Obama!  Obama!

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  It's good to be here.  I want to make some quick thank-yous here.  First of all, to the president of this outstanding university, Dr. Michael Adams.  (Applause.)  To my dear friend, Caroline Kennedy.  (Applause.)  To our lieutenant governor candidate, State Senator Loretta Weinberg.  (Applause.)  My dear friend, Frank Lautenberg, senator from New Jersey.  (Applause.)  Two outstanding congressmen who supported me early in my race for the presidency, Steve Rothman and John Adler.  Give them a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  One of the finest mayors not just in New Jersey, but in the country, Cory Booker is in the house.  (Applause.)  To all the other elected officials, to all the labor leaders and religious leaders that are in the house, and to all of you who are just -- just leaders, period.  (Applause.)

I am so proud to be here on behalf of a man who is absolutely committed to fighting for New Jersey's families and New Jersey's future, your governor, my friend, Jon Corzine.  (Applause.)

Now, I think it's important for us to have an honest conversation here.  Let's examine the facts.  Let's examine the facts.  Jon is running for reelection during a challenging time for New Jersey and for America.  I don't have to tell you that.  You see it in your own lives.  You've seen it in your own communities.  There are too many folks who are out of work and too many people who are looking for a job.  There are too many hardworking families being squeezed by skyrocketing costs on the one side and shrinking wages on the other.  You got men and women who've worked hard all their lives -- who've done the right thing all their lives -- and now they're worried they won't be able to be the kinds of husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, they'd hoped to be because of economic factors beyond their control.  Seniors worried about whether they can stay on retirement.  Young people worried about whether they're going to be able to afford a college education.  

So I know these are challenging times, and Jon knows these are challenging times.  I know folks are hurting.  But I also know this:  For the past four years, you've had an honorable man at the helm of this state during one of the most difficult periods in its history.  You've had a leader who's put the interests of hardworking New Jersey families ahead of the special interests.  You've had a leader who's fought for what matters most to the people of New Jersey.  That's the kind of Jon -- the kind of governor that Jon Corzine has been.  That's the kind of governor that Jon Corzine will continue to be.  And that's why New Jersey needs to give Jon Corzine another four years.  (Applause.)

Let's look at the record.  Let's look at the record.  Let's look at the record, because I know there's a tendency for politicians to distort their opponents' records in the heat of a campaign, so let's just review some history.  This is a governor who's provided more property tax relief than any governor in New Jersey's history.  (Applause.)  This is the first governor in 60 years who's reduced the size of government.  (Applause.)

But at the same time, this is also a leader who's stood up against those who want to cut what matters, like education.  Jon Corzine expanded early childhood education for more than 5,000 children because he understood that pre-K isn't "babysitting" -- it's the cornerstone of a world-class education.  (Applause.)  Under Jon's leadership, the Children's Health Insurance Program expanded by nearly 100,000 kids in this state.  Think about it.  Kids who didn't have care now have it.  New Jersey is now a leader in clean energy.  And working families can spend time with a newborn baby or a sick loved one because of paid sick leave that has been signed into law by Jon Corzine.  (Applause.)

When it comes to the issues that matter most to folks -- job creation and economic growth -- Jon's been a true leader -- first governor in this country to pass a recovery plan to get this economy moving in his state.

Now, listening to Jon's opponent, you'd think that New Jersey was the only state in America that's been swept up in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, which by the way did not start under Jon Corzine's party's watch.  (Applause.)  There seems to be some selective memory here about how we got into this fix.  (Applause.)  Listening to his opponent, you'd think New Jersey was the only state in America that's been facing layoffs.  You'd think New Jersey was the only state in America where hardworking men and women are worried about their family's futures.  I don't need to tell you, you know the truth.  (Applause.) 

It's not just Teaneck that's been going through tough times.  It's not New Jersey that's been going through tough times.  Americans in every corner of this country have been going through tough times.  And let's be honest:  This crisis came about because of the same sorts of lax regulation and trickle-down economic theory that the other guy's party has been peddling for years.  (Applause.)  I'm telling you, these folks, they got a lot of nerve.  They leave this big mess and suddenly they're complaining about how fast we're cleaning it up.  (Applause.)

And I'll tell you what we don't need to do right now.  We don't need politicians who are more interested in scoring points than solving problems.  We don't need politicians who are offering the same answers that got us into this mess in the first place.  We don't need politicians who'd rather sit on the sidelines and point fingers than offer any answers, any real solutions. 

We've had enough of those kinds of politicians in Trenton and in Washington.  We don't need any more.  What we need are leaders that are committed to moving this country forward, moving this state forward.  That's the kind of leader Jon Corzine is.  That's why he deserves another four years.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT:  Four more years.  Now, let me say something about Jon the man, because we served together in the United States Senate and I learned what kind of man he is.  I learned about his service as a United States Marine. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Semper Fi!

THE PRESIDENT:  Semper Fi. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Hoo-ah!

THE PRESIDENT:  I learned about how he was born into a middle-class family, how he worked his way up, how he's committed to giving every American the same opportunities he had.  Jon Corzine was one of the best colleagues I had in the Senate and he's one of the best partners I have in the White House.  (Applause.)

Jon and I worked -- Jon and I worked together to enact a Recovery Act that's making a meaningful difference for families in New Jersey and across America.  I want you to understand this.  Because of the Recovery Act, we've prevented the police officers and firefighters Americans rely on from being laid off across this state and across this country.  (Applause.)  We've put a middle-class tax cut into the pockets of 95 percent of hardworking families -- that includes 3 million hardworking New Jersey families.  (Applause.)  We increased and extended unemployment insurance for 12 million Americans to help them weather this economic storm, including 600,000 men and women in this state.  We made COBRA 65 percent cheaper so if you've lost your job, you've still got your health care while you're looking for a new one.  (Applause.)  We invested more than $12,000 in scholarships for disadvantaged students right here -- right here at this university -- while keeping teachers in the classroom and improving schools all across this state.

And the Recovery Act didn't just include the most progressive tax cuts in American history.  It didn't just include emergency relief for families that needed them or for states that were seeing their tax revenues dwindle.  The Recovery Act was also the largest investment in education in American history.  It was the largest investment in clean energy in American history.  It was the largest investment in our nation's infrastructure since Eisenhower built the Interway Highway System back in the 1950s -- rebuilding our roads and our bridges and our crumbling infrastructure.  (Applause.)  That's what we've been fighting for -- cleaning up the mess we found.  (Applause.)

The reason I'm here today, the reason Jon Corzine is here today, the reason you are here today, is because you know our work is far from over.  You know we still have big challenges ahead in New Jersey and across America.  We are not going to rest until we solve them.  We're not going to rest until anyone who's looking for a job can find a job -- and a job that pays a living wage.  We're not going to rest until our markets are -- not just are markets are rising again, but our businesses are hiring again.  We're not going to rest until the American dream is within reach for anybody who's willing to believe in it and work for it and fight for it. 

And overcoming enormous challenges is not going to be easy.  It's not going to happen overnight.  But here's what I can say with absolute certainty.  The difficult work of building a better future -- it has begun.  It's beginning right here in New Jersey.  It's begun in Washington.  It's begun across America.  We've begun to build a clean energy economy that is going to free our nation from the grips of foreign oil and generate green jobs in the process, putting people back to work in jobs that can't be outsourced.  We've begun to put better standards into our schools, make college and advanced training more affordable, and prepare every child in America to succeed in the 21st century  economy. 

We've begun the work of reforming America's health care system.  You know why it -- why that's so important.  Premiums have risen almost 90 percent here in New Jersey over the last decade, and that pace is only going to continue if we fail to act. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you, Obama!

THE PRESIDENT:  I love you back, but I'm making an important point right now.  (Applause.)  We know -- but listen up -- we know that millions of people in this country have been denied coverage because of a preexisting condition.  We know that more and more companies are dropping coverage.  We know more and more families are having to do without insurance or they're struggling to pay out-of-pocket costs.

Now, Jon Corzine has begun to move New Jersey past this status quo, expanding coverage for nearly 150,000 people last year.  And we're close to moving America past the status quo, closer to passing serious health insurance reform than at any time in our generation -- giving coverage to people who don't have it; giving stability to people who do have it; controlling skyrocketing health care costs that are crushing our families and our businesses and our state and federal budgets. 

So that's what we're fighting for:  Quality, affordable insurance; a world-class education; a stronger economy that doesn't just work for some folks, but everybody.  (Applause.)   That's what matters to Jon Corzine.  That's what he's fighting for as governor.  (Applause.)  That's what he'll continue fighting for if the people of New Jersey give him that chance.

So let me just -- let me just be clear.  I know there are folks here who may be cynical about politics.  Certainly there are folks watching who might be cynical about politics.  I know that folks are skeptical about whether their elected leaders can or will do anything about the problems they face.  And you've got a right to be cynical.  Year after year, decade after decade, you've seen progress stymied, partisan gridlock, whether it's in your state capitols or your nation's capitol.

But here's the thing.  New Jersey now has a governor who's bucking that trend, who's refusing to go along with business as usual.  He's telling the truth about the challenges you face and he's making every effort to meet them.  And I'm here today to urge you to cast aside the cynics and the skeptics, and prove to all Americans that leaders who do what's right and who do what's hard will be rewarded and not rejected.  (Applause.) 

That's what so much of this campaign comes down to.  It's a matter of trust.  You know, I have traveled all across the country and I've traveled all across New Jersey.  And everywhere I go, people's expectations are pretty modest.  They don't want government to solve all their problems.  They know they've got to work hard.  They've got to meet their responsibilities, their commitments.  All they're looking for is a shot.  They just want an opportunity.  They just want to be able to find a job that pays a living wage.  They want to be able to send their kids to college so they can have a better life than they did.  They want to make sure they're not bankrupt when they get sick.  They want to be able to retire with some dignity and some respect. 

And the thing is, what they want from their political leaders -- I think -- this is I hope what you want -- is not somebody who's slick; is not somebody who, you know, always look well-groomed.  I mean, Jon's hair kind of goes frizzy sometimes and, you know, his beard gets a little, you know, straggly sometimes.  It's not somebody who's going to pretend that everything is okay; is going to spend all his time blaming other people. 

I hope what you want is somebody who's going to be straight with you, somebody who's got your interests at heart, and who's going to be out there every single day working for you because he cares about public service and he understands that if it hadn't been for some folks fighting for him, nobody -- he would have never gotten to where he got to.  Right?  (Applause.)

So I want everybody who's watching to understand.  Jon Corzine is a serious man and he is serious about solving the problems of New Jersey.  And we are coming down to the home stretch in this election.  There's not a lot of time left.  And in the days ahead, Jon is going to be talking to a lot of voters.  He's going to be making a lot of speeches.  He's going to be visiting a lot of towns and cities.  But ultimately, the outcome of this race is not up to Jon -- it's up to you.  It's up to you.  It's up to everybody who cares about this state, everybody who wants to build a better life for themselves and for their children.

And we are at one of those rare moments in history where we've been given the opportunity to change our country for the better.  But it's never easy, and it never starts in Washington.  It starts with you.  When you elected me as President, just remember, nobody gave me a chance.  We never promised it was going to be easy.  But the excitement and the hope and the energy -- that came out of your belief that that gap between what is and what's possible, that gap can be closed if everybody pulls together, if everybody's serious, if everybody is committed.  We need that same kind of energy, excitement, commitment around this campaign.  (Applause.)

And if you do that -- if you do that, I guarantee you're going to have Jon Corzine as governor.  And so I'm going to close with a story that some of you may have heard.  I'm going to close with a story that some of you may have heard, because I want you to go out there and start knocking on some doors and making some phone calls.  (Applause.)

I heard somebody out here saying "fired up."  (Applause.)  I don't know if you guys remember where that story "fired up" comes from.  Jon Corzine remembers.  But I love this story, so I like telling it.  It started very early in my campaign when you guys couldn't pronounce my name.  (Laughter.)  No, you couldn't.  (Laughter.)  You said, who?  He's running for what?

So back early in that campaign, I went down to South Carolina, an early state.  And I went to a legislative dinner; I had been invited to speak.  It was very early and I needed some endorsements, so I'm sitting next to this state legislator.  I said, ma'am, I'd like you to endorse my candidacy for President.  She looked at me, she said, Obama, I will give you my endorsement if you come to my hometown of Greenwood, South Carolina.  And I -- I must have had a glass of wine because right away I just said, okay.  (Laughter.)  You got a date.

Come to find out, Greenwood is an hour and a half from every place else.  (Laughter.)  So about a month later, I come in, I arrive about midnight.  I'm exhausted.  I've been campaigning in Iowa, New Hampshire, nonstop, haven't seen my family, I'm feeling grumpy.  I get to the hotel, I want to hit the bed. 

Suddenly I get a tap on the shoulder.  It's my staff person saying, Senator -- I was Senator back then -- Senator, we need you in the car at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow morning.  I said, what?  (Laughter.)  Six-thirty.  I said, why?  Said, because you got to go to Greenwood like you promised. 

So the next morning I wake up and I feel terrible.  I'm exhausted.  And I go to the window, I open it up -- it's pouring down rain outside.  I go get some coffee, I open up the newspaper -- there's a bad story about me in The New York Times.  Jon, you know what that's like.  (Laughter.)

I go downstairs, my umbrella blows open, I get poured on, I'm soaked.  So by the time we're driving, I'm soaked, I'm tired, I'm sleepy, I'm mad, and we're driving and driving and it takes forever.  Finally we get to Greenwood, an hour and a half later -- although you don't know you're in Greenwood right away because not a lot of buildings there.  (Laughter.)  We pull alongside the little park, a little field house.  We go inside.  Lo and behold, there are only 20 people there -- 20 people.  (Laughter.)

So I'm a professional, I've got a job to do.  I shake hands with everybody.  "How do you do?  What do you do?  Nice to meet you."  And suddenly out of the blue I hear this person shout out, "Fired up?"  And everybody in the room acts like this is normal.  (Laughter.)  They say, "Fired up!"  Then I hear, "Ready to go?"  And everybody in the room suddenly says, "Ready to go!"

I don't know what's going on.  I look back -- there's a little lady, little women.  She can't be more than 5'2", 5'3", about middle-aged.  She's dressed like she just came from church, got a big church hat.  And she smiles at me and she points at me and she says, "Fired up?"  Turns out this woman is a city councilwoman from Greenwood who is famous for her chants.  She also, by the way, I find out later, moonlights as a private detective.  (Laughter.)  It's a true story.

But wherever she goes, she always likes to chant.  And so for the next it seemed like five minutes, she would just say, "Fired up?"  And everybody would say, "Fired up!"  "Ready to go?"  "Ready to go!"  And I realized very quickly that I'm being upstaged by this person.  (Laughter.)  It's irritating me a little bit.  (Laughter.)  I'm looking at my staff, they're shrugging their shoulders, they don't know.

But here's the thing, New Jersey.  After about a minute, I suddenly start feeling like I'm fired up.  (Applause.)  I feel like I'm kind of ready to go.  (Applause.)  So I start joining in the chant.  And for the rest of the day whenever I'd see my staff, I'd say, are you fired up?  They'd say, I'm fired up.  You ready to go?  I'm ready to go, boss.  And this becomes the mantra of our campaign, everywhere we go.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Fired up!

THE PRESIDENT:  Fired up!  (Applause.)

Here's the moral of this story.  One voice can change a room.  (Applause.)  And if one voice can change a room, it can change a city.  And if it can change a city, it can change a state.  If it can change a state, it can change a nation.  Change a nation, it can change the world.  It can change in New Jersey right here.  Your voice can change this election.  Don't give up.  Don't lose heart.  Don't get impatient.  Support the guy who's fighting for you.  Your voice can change the world.  Your voice can elect Jon Corzine, governor once again of New Jersey.  I need you.  Jon needs you.  Getting health care done depends on you.  Getting energy done depends on you.  Improving our schools depends on you. 

So I've just got one question for you.  Are you fired up? 

AUDIENCE:  Fired up!

THE PRESIDENT:  Are you ready to go? 

AUDIENCE:  Ready to go!

THE PRESIDENT:  Are you fired up?

AUDIENCE:  Fired up!

THE PRESIDENT:  Are you ready to go?

AUDIENCE:  Ready to go!

THE PRESIDENT:  Are you fired up?

AUDIENCE:  Fired up!

THE PRESIDENT:  Are you ready to go?

AUDIENCE:  Ready to go!

THE PRESIDENT:  Let's get Jon Corzine reelected.  God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

END               
6:44 P.M. EDT
 

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
__________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                                                                             October 21, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
ON SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVES
 
Metropolitan Archives
Landover, Maryland
 

2:16 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Please, everybody, have a seat.  Thank you so much.  Thank you, Joe, for that introduction, and for inviting us here to Metropolitan Archives. 

I want to acknowledge a few other extraordinary guests.  First of all, the governor of the great state of Maryland, Martin O'Malley, is here.  (Applause.)  Senator Ben Cardin, who is doing an outstanding job on behalf of the state; House Majority Leader Hoyer; Representative Chris Van Hollen; Representative Donna Edwards, whose congressional district we are in; County Executive Jack Johnson; Mayor William Gardner, the mayor of Hyattsville; and my outstanding Secretary of the Treasury, Tim Geithner; as well as my extraordinary SBA administrator, Karen Mills.  I am so glad to have them standing behind me today.

Five years ago, this company was founded by Joe and his old fraternity brother, Doug Peters.  I have not had a chance to ask them what they were doing during those frat years.  (Laughter.)  But they were two friends who had known each other since middle school.  And today, their families took this company from an empty warehouse to a small business that stores and delivers records for some of the largest firms in the world. 

And the success -- the story of their success has been the story of small business owners all across the country -- men and women from big cities and from small towns who've had both a good idea and the drive to follow through on it; who've convinced family and friends to join them in taking a chance on a dream. 

Now, these entrepreneurial pioneers embody that spirit of possibility and the tireless work ethic and the simple hope for something better that lies at the heart of the American ideal.  And they've always formed the backbone of the American economy.  They're the ones who've opened up the mom-and-pop stores and started the computer tinkering that's led to some of the biggest innovations and corporations in the world.  After all, Hewlett-Packard began in a garage.  Google began as a research project.  McDonald's started with just one restaurant.  

Over the past decade and a half, America's small businesses have created 65 percent of all new jobs in the country.  And more than half of all Americans working in the private sector are either employed by a small business or own one -- more than half.  These companies are the engine of job growth in America.  They fuel our prosperity.  And that's why they have to be at the forefront of our recovery. 

The problem is, our small businesses have been some of the hardest hit by this recession.  From the middle of 2007 through the end of 2008, small businesses lost 2.4 million jobs.  And because banks shrunk from lending in the midst of the financial crisis, it's been difficult for entrepreneurs to take out the loans they need to start a business.  For those who do own a small business, it's been difficult to finance inventories and make payroll, or expand if things are going well. 

And that's why we made sure the Recovery Act focused on helping small businesses expand and create jobs.  In it, we temporarily reduced or eliminated fees on SBA loans -- loans that give small businesses more money to reinvest in their own futures.  And we guaranteed some of these loans by up to 90 percent, which has given local banks and credit unions the confidence they need to lend. 

In the last eight months, these steps have made a real difference for small businesses across America.  So far, the Recovery Act has supported over 33,000 loans to small businesses that have already helped save or create nearly tens of thousands of jobs -- nearly $13 billion in new lending -- $13 billion.  And more than 1,200 banks and credit unions that had stopped issuing SBA loans when the financial crisis hit are lending again today.  And more than $4.3 billion in federal contracts are now going to small businesses.

We're also providing tax relief to small businesses under the Recovery Act -- relief that will give these businesses back over $5 billion this year.  And we're giving tax cuts directly to 95 percent of working Americans, which includes the vast majority of small business owners and their employees. 

So there's no question that our Recovery Act has given a boost to every American who works at a small business, or owns one, or aspires to own one.  There's no question that the steps we've taken have improved the overall climate for small business across the country. 

But there's also no question that we've got a long way to go.  There's still too little credit flowing to our small businesses.  There's still too many entrepreneurs who can't get the loans they need to open up their doors and start hiring.  There's still too many who are struggling to make payroll and to stay open.  And there's still too many successful small businesses that want to expand further and hire more but just don't have the capital to do it. 

Metropolitan Archives is one of these companies.  Last February, Joe and Doug were able to purchase the building we're standing in with an SBA loan -- an expansion that has already helped them retain 10 jobs, and one that will create 10 new ones in the months ahead.  In fact, business is going so well that they're already hoping to expand again.  But they need another loan to make it happen. 

These are the kind of stories I hear from small business owners all the time.  And they're the kind of stories that my unbelievable administrator for the SBA, Karen Mills, hears every single day.  And that's why today, we're announcing new steps to support more lending to America's small businesses -- steps that will lead to more jobs, more growth, and a stronger economic recovery. 

The first thing we need to do is increase the maximum size of various SBA loans.  So I'm calling on Congress to increase the cap on what's called 7(a) loans to $5 million.  These are the loans most frequently handed out by the Small Business Administration to help folks open their doors and buy machinery, equipment, land and buildings.  These larger loans will help more small business owners and franchisees grow.  We also need to increase the maximum size of what's called 504 loans to $5 million.  These are the type of loans that Joe and Doug used to expand this business and create new jobs.  And we should also increase the maximum size of microloans -- these are smaller loans -- that go to start-ups and other smaller businesses. 

Today, we're also taking additional steps to boost credit for small businesses through our financial stability plan.  The major banks that were in critical condition a year ago need no new assistance from the government, and so we're winding down that portion of the TARP program.  But to spur lending to small businesses, it's essential that we make more credit available to the smaller banks and community financial institutions that these businesses depend on.  These are the community banks who know their borrowers; who gave them their first loan; who've watched them grow from down the street -- not from Wall Street.  The large majority of the business loans from these smaller banks are not to major corporations -- they're to entrepreneurs like Joe and Doug.  And when banks like these are hit by recession and financial crisis, creditworthy small businesses lose out, and that means less expansion and fewer new jobs just when we need them most. 

And that's why we must do more to give these new opportunities to smaller banks so that they have the ability to access capital -- so that they can lend to small businesses in their communities.  So under the new steps that we're announcing today, if these institutions put forth a plan to increase lending to small businesses, we will help them get the credit they need to do it at rates that are more affordable than the ones offered to our largest financial institutions.  (Applause.)  And we will make capital even more affordable to the community development financial institutions that focus on providing credit to America's small businesses in our hardest hit rural and underserved communities.  (Applause.)

Finally, I've asked Tim Geithner and Karen Mills to convene a conference in the coming weeks that will bring together regulators, congressional leaders, lenders and small businesses to determine what additional steps we can take to get credit flowing to small businesses that want to expand and create more jobs.  Of all the steps we're taking to move this economy from recession to recovery, I continue to believe that the success of our small businesses will be a foundation upon which our future prosperity is built.  So we will continue to do whatever we can to help these businesses grow and thrive.  And I'm confident that the steps we announced today will do that for small business owners across the country, men and women we hear from every day.

They're people like Andy Cabral.  Son of Portuguese immigrants, Andy started his business on an SBA loan and now runs 10 stores across Maryland and Virginia that employ 130 people.  And Andy has already seen one loan fall through the cracks because of the financial crisis and he's hit the cap on his SBA loans.  But the measure we're announcing today will help Andy and other franchisees pursue their plans to expand and create more jobs.  

And these steps will make a difference for more small businesses like Pete's APizza in Washington, D.C.  I recommend it -- that everybody go out there.  (Laughter.)  When the three owners had little more than a dream of opening up a casual pizza restaurant, they found it challenging to get financing.  Ultimately they got a loan through City First Bank, a community development bank right in Washington.  Today, business is booming.  And the initiative we're announcing today will help more banks provide more loans to businesses like Pete's.     

And the steps we've announced will make a difference for Joe and Doug, and all the folks who work here at Metropolitan Archives.  In the past five years, you've done all that's asked of Americans who hope to pursue a dream of owning their own business -- you've taken a risk on a good idea, you've worked hard for your success, you've met your responsibilities to your employees and your customers.  It's time that responsibility and that success are rewarded with the opportunity to keep growing, keep hiring, keep contributing to the success of your community and of your country.  That's the opportunity we're providing today, and that's the opportunity I will continue to fight for as your President in the weeks and months ahead. 

So to all the small business owners out there, I just want to close by saying this.  I know that times are tough and I can only imagine what many of you are going through, in terms of keeping things going in the midst of a very tough economic climate, but I guarantee you this:  This administration is going to stand behind small businesses.  You are our highest priority because we are confident that when you are succeeding, America succeeds.

Thank you very much, everybody.  (Applause.)

END    

2:29 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
October 21, 2009

Remarks by the First Lady at Healthy Kids Fair

South Lawn

12:18 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, hello!

CHILDREN:  Hello!

MRS. OBAMA:  It's good to see everybody.  Perfect weather, right?

CHILDREN:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you so much.  I am thrilled to have you all here today at the White House.  And I also want to thank a few people before we start, not just the young people here who also -- some of you brought your parents, so let's see the parents.  Give the parents a round of applause.  (Applause.)

But in addition to all of you, we've got a few pretty special guests.  We've got some talented chefs and nutritionists here to teach us how to make healthy breakfasts, lunches and snacks.

So I want to first want to introduce Koren Grieveson, who I just got to meet.  Koren, where are you?  There she is, over there.  (Applause.)  She's from my hometown, Chicago.  (Applause.)  Yay for Chicago. 

And then we have Todd Gray.  Todd, where are you?  Raise your hand.  Todd is from my new hometown right here in Washington, D.C.  (Applause.) 

And then we've got Sam Kass who a lot of you probably met -- (applause) -- but Sam is in charge of the White House Garden, so he oversees all of that along with all of our wonderful White House chefs.  Everybody from the White House team, raise your hands, all of our White House crew.  (Applause.)

And we also have Vahista Ussery and the rest of the staff from the School Nutrition Association who are on the frontlines every day in our schools.  (Applause.)  So Vahista, where are you and all of the nutrition experts?  (Applause.)

And Elie Krieger, one of the nutritionists from the Food Network, she's way in the back with her family.  Thank you, Elie.  (Applause.)

And I want to thank all the folks from the YMCA and Playworks.  They helped us set up all the fun things that we're going to have to do after we get through talking.  So let's give them a round of applause.  (Applause.)

(Inaudible) -- U.S. Department of Agriculture for joining us today and for all of his hard work and leadership on making our food and our schools healthier.  He's been doing a phenomenal job.  And it seems like just yesterday that Secretary Vilsack and I were out here to begin digging for the garden.  And it seems like just yesterday.

And one of our goals was to focus on the importance of educating our kids about healthy eating.  So it wasn't just about planting a garden.  It was also to begin to talk about nutrition and to highlight the little ways that each of us can add more healthy fruits and vegetables to our diet, something that I think about all the time as a mother.

We felt that this was especially important right now when so many children in this nation are facing health problems that are entirely preventable.  So we've got our kids who are struggling with things that we have the power to control. 

Right now one in three children in this country are overweight or obese.  And as I've said many times before, if we think we're dealing with a serious health problem now, you know, then we project out to five, 10, 20 years from now when we see these rates increase and all the illnesses that result from obesity, whether it's high blood pressure, or heart disease, cancer. 

And believe it or not, which is a very surprising thing, medical experts are now warning that for the first time in the history of this nation, we're headed for the next generation being on track to have a shorter life span than us.  That's the way we're going right now. 

And none of us wants that.  None of us wants that for our children and for our children's futures.  Even if we don't care about ourselves, we don't want that for our kids.  We want our children to eat right, not just because it's the right thing to do but because quite frankly healthy good food tastes good and we want them to experience that.  We don't just want our kids to exercise because we tell them to.  We want them to exercise because it's fun and they enjoy it.  And we want them to learn now how to lead good, healthy lifestyles so that they're not struggling to figure out how to do that when they're older.

But as a parent, and I know all of you here today, we know that sometimes doing all that is easier said than done, because we all care but it is becoming so increasingly difficult to provide all that for our kids.  And you all know that better than anyone here, as parents.  We're all pulled in a million different directions, working hard, working long hours, trying to do everything, be perfect parents.  We love you guys so much we just want everything for you. 

But it's hard to do everything.  And when you come home from a long day at work, and the refrigerator is empty, and you know you don't feel like cooking -- (laughter) -- the easiest and sometimes the cheapest thing to do is to get in a fast food drive-thru.  We've all done it because we are overwhelmed and we don't know what the options are.

And today life is so different from when I was growing up, kids.  And I know your parents tell you this.  I tell my kids this.  When I was growing up, fast food was a treat.  You know, we couldn't afford to get fast food every week, because my parents couldn't afford it, so it was something you did on a special occasion. 

We had pizza about once every school year -- once every semester when we got good grades.  That's when we got pizza.  It was pizza day.  That's what we got for getting good grades, pizza. 

And we didn't have dessert every single night.  My mother would tell us, "Dessert is not a right.  It's a treat."  So we had it on special occasions.  We didn't have -- and I have to tell my kids this -- you don't get dessert every night of the week.  Otherwise it's not a treat; it's just something that you do. 

And my mother was also very clear in our household that you ate what she fixed.  Mmm, yes.  (Laughter.)  You ate what she fixed, and if you didn't eat that, then you didn't eat.  And in my household -- is if you say you're not hungry, then you have to eat your vegetables, and then you get up and leave, and you don't ask for anything else, and go to bed, right?

So these are the kind of rules that I grew up with, that all of your moms and your dads grew up with, and these are the kind of rules and boundaries and guidelines that we want to set for all of you.

But in my household, there were no absolutes, right?  I mean, we love good food, too.  That's why I always say there's nothing that the First Family loves more than a good burger, right?  (Laughter.)  And look, my favorite food in the whole wide world are French fries.  I love them.  Dearly.  (Laughter.)  Deeply.  (Laughter.)  I have a good relationship with French fries and I would eat them every single day if I could.  I really would.  But I know that if I'm eating the right things -- and I tell my girls this -- if you're getting the right foods for most of the time, then when it's time to have cake and french fries on those special occasions, then you balance it out. 

So it's not about any absolute no's.  It's just about striking a balance.  And that's what I know your moms are trying to teach you all.  That's what I'm trying to teach my girls. 

But these days, even when parents do have the time and the resources to buy healthy foods and make a simple meal at home, the reality is that kids are spending a third of their time at school, right?  So we don't have control over what you eat when you're at school.  So even when we're -- when we're working hard to give our kids healthy food at home, if they go to school and eat a lunch that's loaded with calories and fat, then all the efforts that we try to instill at home, it gets knocked off a little bit. 

And many kids don't have any access to physical education in the schools -- and that's also something that's also changed.  When I grew up -- and I went to public schools in my neighborhood -- I don't care what you did; you had recess and you had gym on a very regular basis.  So even though we're encouraging our kids to exercise, if they can't go to school and that -- get the same kind of exercise opportunities, then it makes our jobs as parents harder.

And one of the things that I want to do is to begin focusing on ways that this administration can help parents, kids and families in tackling all these challenges.  We want to make it a little easier on you all -- not just tell you what to do and what you should look like, but help you with some resources so that it doesn't feel so impossible.

And that's one of the reasons why we're here today, because we know that schools can play an important role in the work that we hope to achieve.  And that's why the Department of Agriculture has started this wonderful challenge called Healthier U.S. School Challenge.  And the goal of this challenge is to find schools who are going to commit to making fresh healthy food available -- we want them to pledge that, that's part of the challenge -- but in addition to making healthy foods available, getting rid of the junk food in the school, making that pledge, get rid of it, but also to be sure that they're setting aside time for physical activity during the day in the curriculum and teaching kids about healthy food choices during the day.

And I am pleased to announce that there are about 635 schools from across the country who have met the challenge, and we have some of those schools with us today.

But my goal is to challenge more schools and more communities to take part in this, particularly middle and high school students, because right now those 635 students are at the elementary school level, and we need to take this challenge up to kids in middle schools and high schools. 

So I'm looking forward to visiting some of the schools that have joined the Healthy School Challenge.  That's a pledge that I have.  If your school commits to this challenge, there's a possibility that I'll come and check it out.  But I'm not coming if you're not a part of the challenge, right?  So we want to get more schools to follow this lead. 

And of course changing old habits is never easy.  That's why it's going to take a broader team effort with everyone pitching in, and it's going to take government doing its part. 

And that's why this administration is going to be working hard to reauthorize our federal Child Nutrition program, because with 30 million kids relying on a school breakfast or a lunch as one of their primary meals of the day, we need to make sure that these meals are nutritious and well balanced, and that more kids can have access so that they don't have to go hungry in school. 

And the chefs and nutritionists here today are going to show us how we can use the food that the USDA provides to schools as a way to prepare really tasty, healthy foods.  That's why they're here today, because they're going to take that food that you get in the schools and do some special stuff to show that with the food that we have, we can probably do even better than we're doing.

     We'll also need all you kids to be a part of that.  Now, I know you're dozing off.  I see it.  (Laughter.)  It's hot, I want to play.  (Laughter.)  But we're going to need you, too.  And what are we going to need you to do?

CHILD:  Stay healthy.

     MRS. OBAMA:  Yes, sir.  What? 

CHILD:  Stay healthy.

     MRS. OBAMA:  Stay healthy.  And how do you stay healthy?

CHILD:  Eating the right things.

MRS. OBAMA:  Eating the right things.  We're going to need you to help your parents with these choices.  So when vegetables on your plate -- we don't want to hear, "I don't want to eat it.  I don't like it."  (Laughter.)  "It tastes bad.  I don't want it."  We don't want to hear the whining.  We want you to eat it. Just eat it, right?  (Laughter.)

And what else do we need you to do?  If you're going to be strong and healthy, what do we need you to do?

CHILD:  Be good, be healthy, and be nice.

MRS. OBAMA:  Be good, be healthy, and be nice.  (Laughter.)  Yes.  And exercise.  You've got to play.  So in order to play, you've got to turn off what?

CHILDREN:  TV.

     MRS. OBAMA:  Turn off the TV.  In our household, no TV during school days.  And only a couple hours during the weekend, I'm sorry.  But because the TV is off, my girls get up and they move.  Even if they're pushing each other down, they're running.  (Laughter.)

     So we're going to need you to help your parents.  Turn off the TV on your own.  Get up and throw a ball.  Run around the house.  Don't break anything, but move.  Try to go outside if you can. 

That's why we're here at the White House, because we're reaching out to schools, to families, to kids.  And we're inviting you guys to be a part of our team and think about all of us doing our part.

     And one of the children who came here and helped us with the garden -- this was a very powerful moment in this whole garden experience, was after we planted and we harvested and we ate together, the kids talked about this experience. 

Some of the kids from Bancroft School -- yay -- (applause) -- they're a little older than you, but they were fifth-graders.  And one of them -- a few of them wrote that -- she said she's "a pretty regular fifth-grader who loves sweets."  And she said because of her time in the garden, she said "…has made me think about the choices I have with what I put in my mouth."  So she learned about the power of what choices she makes -- not what her mom tells her what to do, not what her teachers, but the choices that she makes.

     And another child wrote -- he said -- it was inspired -- "It has inspired us to eat better and work harder." 

And then there was the student who wrote with great excitement about what he learned about tomatoes.  I remember this because he read this report to me.  He said, not just that they're both a fruit and a vegetable but that "…they fight diseases like cancer and heart problems, and that they have a lot of vitamins in them, too."  And armed with that knowledge, he declared, "So the tomato is a fruit and it is now my best friend."  (Laughter.)

     That's what we want you all to think, that vegetables and fruits are not the enemy; it is the power to a good future.  And in the end, that's what we're all trying to do here.  That's why we've invited you to the South Lawn.  That's why all these cameras are here.  That's why Secretary Vilsack is here, because we are now focused on your future and what are you going to feel like and be.  And part of that has to do with your health.  And it starts with how you eat and how you exercise.

     So we hope you guys are all game to join the fight.  We hope that there are schools all across this country that will join the challenge.  We hope that there are more parents that are going to be focused in thinking about ways that we can help you all. 

But I now want to turn it over to Secretary Vilsack who has been a phenomenal partner in this effort.  We couldn't do this without the work of the Department of Agriculture, and he has been steadfast in this fight to ensure that children have healthier options in the schools.  So he has been a dear friend, and I want you all to give him a big round of applause and welcome him to the podium.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)

END

12:36 P.M. EDT

Download a PDF with more information about the Healthy Kids Fair

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
October 21, 2009

Remarks By Vice President Biden in a Joint Statement with President Kaczynski

Presidential Palace, Warsaw, Poland

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Mr. President, thank you for your hospitality.  And I apologize to your colleagues, when two old friends get together, they tend to talk.  You know how diplomats always walk out and say, we had a frank and thorough discussion?  Well, we had a discussion friends have, we talked about everything.  And had we the time, and were we not cognizant of people's schedules, we probably would have talked for another two hours. 

But, Mr. President, I am proud to stand here with you, and I think our meeting was productive.  I know of no problem of consequence we have with Poland.  I know of no consequential problem.  I know of no problem that is not able to be resolved as they emerge.  Poland has a decided disadvantage in the relationship -- they own a part of our heart, and that is a disadvantage, Mr. President, we have.

My daughter-in-law comes from the second largest Polish city in the world, Chicago.  But all kidding aside, it was a great discussion, and we discussed a broad range of mutual interests.  I think if I could add on to what the President said, we both see the relationship as being rooted in security, but much beyond that, it's much beyond that.  Poland, in 20 years, has moved from a country that in fact we looked at in terms of what we could do for, to a country as to what we can do jointly with, how we can jointly address the problems and opportunities that we face as genuine partners.

So there's a broad range of mutual interests, and our joint commitment to the NATO effort, to Afghanistan on.  By the way, I expressed my deep appreciation -- I, like the President, have visited the troops on more than one occasion in Afghanistan.  The Polish soldiers in Afghanistan are not just soldiers, they are warriors.  They are warriors.  They are doing an incredibly difficult job, and I wish every Pole could see just how brave and steadfast they are.  You would be incredibly proud, incredibly proud, as I was, to have the opportunity to know and see where they were.

As a matter of fact -- it is just part of my DNA, as they say -- but I'm going to go from here to meet with men and women of the Polish armed forces later today, to let them know how much I truly appreciate -- and I mean this sincerely, this is not a diplomatic nicety.  The President and I truly appreciate -- truly appreciate the sacrifices that the Polish military is making.  And I'm going to meet with decorated Polish war veterans who have served in Afghanistan.

I understand, like all parents -- my son just got back from a year in Iraq.  I understand the anxiety of every Polish mother and father, husband and wife, son and daughter.  And I just want you to know it may not be a big deal, but it's a big deal to me.  It's a big deal that you all know that we generally appreciate and recognize the sacrifice not only the soldiers in the field are making, but the families who are left at home.

There's a famous expression attributable to another man, not me.  It says that, "they also serve who stand and wait.  They also serve who stand and wait."  So we owe a debt of obligation to the mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, and children of those brave Polish soldiers. 

We also reaffirmed -- I reaffirmed -- President Obama's absolute determination to secure and ensure NATO's success in the 21st century is matched by the -- matches the success of the 20th century.  I briefed the President on Secretary Clinton's -- we talked in depth about Russia.  And we talked in depth about the -- our mutual desire to see better relations with Russia.  We also talked about my recent trip to Ukraine and to Georgia, and our similar views and concerns that we have relative to both countries.

The President and I discussed the leading role that Poland can play if it chooses to play -- and I believe it will, but that's a decision made by Poland -- on national missile defense within NATO -- within NATO.  And I welcome the President's support for the missile defense, and for Poland's offer to host a standard missile, this so-called SM-3s, in a third stage. 

President Obama has a phased adaptive approach to missile defense that I believe -- I don't believe, I know -- strengthens missile defense for Europe unlike its ever existed, reinforces Article 5, and it will bolster the alliance's deterrent capability overall.  Simply put, it's better for NATO, it's better for Poland, it's better for Europe, it's better for the United States.  It's a more adaptable, rational, and workable system. 

And I want to thank the President, and the Polish people, for the hospitality they’ve shown during my visit to Warsaw.  I was reminiscing with some of my colleagues prior to arriving -- and I mentioned this at a previous meeting -- that how far Poland has come, the incredible sacrifices the Polish people have made over the past century and a half longer, but in modern history, and the distance they have traveled in the last 20 years.  It's absolutely remarkable. 

And I was discussing this with my national security advisor in the way over, in the car.  As I rode through Warsaw in the last -- the first -- well, the most recent time I was here, was when we were deciding -- we, me and others -- pushing for the admission of Poland into NATO in the mid-'90s.  And the discussion then was if Poland would be a partner in NATO -- Poland clearly wanted to be -- if it would be.  We were pushing with all of our allies for the admission of Poland into NATO.  And I look now, and here we are, not just talking about whether or not Poland is a part of NATO, but the vital role Poland is playing within NATO. 

And I assured -- in conclusion, I assured the President that no one should misunderstand our commitment -- NATO's commitment and the United States' commit -- to the security of Poland is unalterable.  It will not change.  It has not changed.  The only thing that's changed is the admission of Poland into NATO, making NATO stronger than it was.

So, Mr. President, I thank you very much for your hospitality.  And I apologize to all of you, because we got to talking, and we ended up spending two hours together in a private meeting.  But it was -- I benefited greatly from the discussion, Mr. President.  Thank you for your hospitality, and I'll see you all.  Thank you. 

END

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
October 21, 2009

Remarks By Vice President Biden In a Joint Statement With Prime Minister Tusk

Prime Minister's Chancellery Warsaw, Poland

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: Mr. President, thank you very much. You know, it's remarkable, I was thinking as I rode over to see you, that one of my last visits to Poland was to meet with your predecessors, and then to give a speech at Warsaw University, discussing -- as I was pushing very hard -- the admission of Poland into NATO. I had the great honor of leading that effort in the United States Senate, which ratifies those treaties. And to think how far we've come, how far Poland has come. You are already shouldering significant responsibility.

The reference that the Prime Minister made was I think we've moved from a relationship of only being the notion of that we would provide security, which we will, but also moving to the relationship where we work together, we work together and not for, but with one another.

And so, Mr. President, it's a great pleasure -- Mr. Prime Minister, it's a great pleasure to meet with you. To state the obvious -- and I don't think it needs restating, but its worth it anyway. To state the obvious, Poland -- Poland is one of our closest allies and critical partners in facing global challenges.

As you all -- already all know, Poland a long time ago captured the heart of the American people. But it also has the heart of our government, through Democratic and Republican administrations. The people in the United States and Poland have deep historic ties that sometimes are sort of mentioned as if they are not so consequential. They are incredibly consequential. They run deep. We share values, and ideals, and countless friendships over the years, and particularly now.

The United States, Mr. Prime Minister, deeply appreciates the service of the -- and sacrifice of your Polish soldiers, who are real warriors. I've been there, I've been in Afghanistan. I've seen them. They are genuine warriors, and they are making great sacrifices. And I know are proud of them, but we are thankful. We are thankful for your soldiers standing alongside of ours in Afghanistan, also in Iraq and the Balkans. And it's an honor -- it's an honor to stand with you in these difficult but vital deployments, Mr. Prime Minister.

Our two countries are bound together by an American commitment to Poland's security beyond the longstanding ties literally through Article 5 of the Washington treaty, NATO, and by Poland's commitment to our security, which you demonstrated I might add, through Article 5 on September the 11th. Without hesitation, you and NATO responded and said an attack on one is an attack on all. Under NATO's Article 5, an attack on one is an attack on all. And this strategic assurance is absolute, absolute, Mr. Prime Minister.

As one who championed the admission of Poland into NATO, I would also point out that we take not only our mutual commitments seriously, but I take it very, very seriously. President Obama and I consider this to be a solemn obligation. President Obama has said, and this is a promise he said not only for our time, but for all time. We appreciate Poland has stepped up and agreed to host an element of the previous missile defense plan.

And we now appreciate that Poland's government agrees with us that there is now a better way, a better way -- with new technology and new information -- to defend against the emerging ballistic missile threats. Our new phased adaptive approach to missile defense is designed to meet a growing threat not only to the United States, but first and foremost to Europe. It's going to meet it with proven technology that will cover more of Europe, including Poland, and will do it more efficiently than the previous system could have, or did. It strengthens missile defense for Europe, it strengthens Article 5, and it strengthens the alliance's deterrent  capability. Mr. Prime Minister, we have -- we have a lot to do. Simply put, our missile plan is better security for NATO, and is better security for Poland, and ultimately better security for the United States of America. 
 

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
__________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                                                                             October 21, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT DNC FUNDRAISER

October 20, 2009

The Hammerstein Ballroom
New York, New York

 

8:08 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, New York!  (Applause.)  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you very much.  Thank you so much, everybody.  Thank you so much.

AUDIENCE:  Yes we can!  Yes we can!  Yes we can!

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  I love New York!  (Applause.) I love New Yorkers!  (Applause.)  And now that the White Sox are out of it -- (laughter) -- if there are any Yankees fans here -- (applause) -- I wish you guys some good luck. 

I am thrilled to be here.  There are some -- all of you are special guests, but we've got some folks that I want to make sure to acknowledge individually.  First of all, we've got some outstanding members of Congress here, all of whom are completely supportive of the agenda that we are moving forward:  Nita Lowey, Anthony Weiner, Joe Crowley, Carolyn Maloney, Steve Israel -- give them a big round of applause.  I think they're over here.  (Applause.)  Thank you, guys. 

I want everybody to know how much I appreciate everything you've done for me, for this country, for the candidates in this room, at a time when we need your efforts more than ever.  I want to thank you for supporting our candidate for city comptroller, John Liu, who's here in the house.  (Applause.)  Our nominee for public advocate, Bill de Blasio, is here.  (Applause.)  And a great city comptroller, our candidate for mayor, my friend, Billy Thompson is in the house.  (Applause.)

Now, many of you -- both here in this room and watching via webcast -- a lot of you guys were on the front lines of our campaign.  You knocked on doors.  You made calls.  You devoted your time and your energy -- and you wrote those checks.  (Laughter.)  Even when you couldn't afford it.  (Laughter.)   That's what you told your spouse -- yes, we can!  (Laughter and applause.)  All because you understood that we were at a special moment in our country's history.  And I want you to know that not a day goes by when I don't think about those efforts of yours.  And the obligation as a consequence of you giving me this great honor, the obligation that I have to every American -- not just those who worked in the campaign, but every American -- everybody who put their faith and hopes, their sweat and tears into a campaign that wasn't just about winning an election, but was about changing a country.

Now, it's been less than a year since the Obama family packed up and moved to Washington.  (Laughter.)  People don't -- so much has happened that we tend to forget it's only been nine months since I was sworn in -- nine months to the day.  (Applause.)  And I want to report to you that Malia and Sasha are doing fine.  (Applause.)  Michelle is a pretty good First Lady.  (Applause.)  We got Bo.  (Applause.)  He's handling his business in the White House.  (Laughter.)

But it's important for all of us to remember what the situation was when we came in nine months ago, because there's some people out there who seem to have a selective memory.  There's sort of a revisionist history about what was waiting for us when we began this presidency.  We were facing an economic crisis unlike any we had seen in generations -- losing 700,000 jobs a month; financial system on the verge of meltdown; economists of every political persuasion, they were fearful that  we might fall into a Great Depression.  You remember that?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE PRESIDENT:  And that's why we acted boldly and we acted swiftly to pass a Recovery Act that's made a difference in the lives of families across America.  People don't, I think, remember where we were and where we are now.  We put a tax cut into the pockets of small business owners and 95 percent of working families -- just like I promised during the campaign -- (applause) -- the most progressive tax cut in history -- 7 million families here in New York have benefitted from it. 

We extended unemployment insurance, increased unemployment insurance for 12 million Americans to help them get through tough times -- that's helped millions of New Yorkers.  (Applause.)  We made COBRA 65 percent cheaper to make sure that if you were looking for a job your family wouldn't go without health care.  (Applause.)  That was in the Recovery Act.  (Applause.)

We gave relief to states including New York to help prevent more teachers and firefighters and police officers from being laid off.  (Applause.)  According to initial reports, 250,000 jobs in our schools were saved as a consequence of the Recovery Act -- a quarter of a million teachers and educational specialists.  (Applause.)  We've supported more than 30,000 loans to small businesses, including 2,000 in this state alone.  We've helped create thousands of private sector jobs.

But not only did we provide tax cuts, not only did we provide relief to states that needed it and individuals that were having a tough time -- that's not just what this Recovery Act was about.  We also happened to, in the Recovery Act, invest  a greater sum in education than any time in our history -- (applause) -- and coupled that with critical reforms that had been bottlenecked in Congress for years. 

The Recovery Act was the largest investment in clean energy in American history.  (Applause.)  It was the largest boost to medical research and basic research in history.  It was the single largest investment in infrastructure since Eisenhower built the Interstate Highway System back in the 1950s -- and it's putting people back to work all across America, rebuilding roads and bridges and dams.  (Applause.)

So that was pretty good -- that was the first month.  (Laughter and applause.)  But we didn't stop there.  As Tim Kaine mentioned, we passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, because I think women should get the pay the same as men for doing the same work.  (Applause.)  We lifted the ban on stem cell research and reaffirmed science to its rightful place in America.  (Applause.)  We extended health care to 11 million children in this country -- including 4 million who didn’t have health insurance. 

We passed the Ted Kennedy service bill, expanding Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, creating service opportunities all across America.  (Applause.)  We appointed a New Yorker from the Bronx to the Supreme Court named Sonia Sotomayor.  (Applause.)  We passed legislation to protect consumers from credit card abuse.  (Applause.)  We passed a law to prevent abuse in the mortgage industry.  (Applause.)  We passed a law that will protect our children from being targeted from big tobacco companies.  (Applause.)  

For the first time in history, we've begun to put in place a new national policy aimed at both increasing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas pollution for all new trucks and cars sold in the United States of America.  (Applause.)

That's in the first nine months.  (Applause.)  The fact is we've already had one of the most productive first years of any administration in decades.  (Applause.)  That's because of you.  That's because of the work you did.  That's what knocking on doors and making phone calls was all about.  (Applause.)

And by the way, that's just what we've done at home.  I've got a whole other portfolio.  (Applause.)  Abroad, we've begun a new era of engagement.  We're working with our partners to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, seeking the goal of a safer, more secure world that's free of nuclear weapons.  (Applause.) We're working in concert with nations on just about every continent to stem the economic downturn and to finally confront the challenge of climate change. 

We banned torture.  We committed to closing Guantanamo.  (Applause.)  We're rebuilding our military.  We're reaffirming our alliances.  We're getting out of Iraq.  (Applause.)  We've made progress in fight al Qaeda in Pakistan and Somalia and Indonesia.  (Applause.)

That's in the first nine months.  (Applause.)  But the reason you're here tonight, the reason I'm here tonight, the reason Tim Kaine is here tonight is because our work is not done.  We're just getting started.  (Applause.)  Because we know that there's still far too many Americans who are out of work; too many Americans seeing their hours and their wages cut; too many Americans who still don't have health care, and if they've got health care, they're seeing their insurance companies more worried about turning a profit than maintaining coverage.  They're dropping folks, discriminating against them because of preexisting conditions.

We know that we still have so much work to do on the energy front.  We know that we still have so much work to do on education.  We know that this country still faces enormous challenges.  And that's not news to you.  You didn't sign up thinking this would be easy.  And I just have to remind everybody -- I know the campaign got fun, but those of you who were there early -- you remember that?  When nobody could pronounce my name? 

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE PRESIDENT:  What is it that motivated you?  It was the notion that there's this gap between what's possible in America and what we had achieved.  Now, we didn’t think that on Election Day, suddenly that gap would close, and that same energy, that same enthusiasm, that same passion that you displayed during the campaign -- that applies now more than ever because now is when the work begins.  That was just the end of the beginning.  We've got so much work to do.

We all remember, back in the very beginning, a lot of people said having hope was naïve.  You remember that?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE PRESIDENT:  That our faith in this country was misplaced.  There's a whole industry feeding cynicism and skepticism, and promoting a notion of, well, it hasn’t happened yet so it's not going to happen.  And for a while, you remember, those folks looked like they were right.  You remember?  Until we proved them wrong.  (Applause.)  Until we proved there isn't anything false about hope.  Until we proved that in America nothing can withstand the power of millions of voices that are calling for change.  That's the spirit that we need right now.  (Applause.)

Because the same folks are out there now.  They say, lower our sights, you're doing too much, scale back, accept less.  I didn’t run for President to accept mediocrity.  (Applause.)  That's not what this country is about.  That's not why you got involved and got engaged.  You didn't decide, oh, this is actually harder than we expected; the insurance companies don't like health reform; I guess we'll just pack up and go home.

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, well, the banks, they don't want financial regulation; I guess it's just too hard.  You know, that poster was nice during the campaign; we had some fun, but oh, well.  (Laughter.)  We didn’t work so hard to leave our problems to the next generation, the next administration.  We came to solve these problems -- right here, right now.  (Applause.)

Now is the time to build a clean energy economy that can put people back to work.  (Applause.)  Now is the time to educate every American child so they can compete in a global economy.  (Applause.)  Now is the time to make sure that every American has affordable health care.  That's what we're fighting for!  Not later, but now!  (Applause.) 

You fired up?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE PRESIDENT:  I want to recognize the people in this room and the folks watching online who are helping us do exactly that.  I want to thank all the Organizing for America volunteers for making calls, knocking on doors, keeping up the fight.  (Applause.)  You know why this is so important.  You know premiums have doubled over the past decade.  Some of you have seen it -- your employer said, I'm sorry, I don't want to do it to you, but I'm doubling your premiums.  In some cases, what they're paying, your employers are paying is going up even faster than what you're paying.  It's unsustainable.  It could double again in the next decade.  You know that millions of people in this country have been discriminated because they don't -- of a preexisting condition.  You know that more companies are dropping coverage.  You know that more and more families are struggling to pay for health care even if they have  insurance, out-of-pocket costs going up faster and faster.

And you know what Tim Kaine understood and underscored -- we are closer than we've ever been.  This has been a battle that has lasted since Teddy Roosevelt -- the basic principle that part of our social contract is you don't go bankrupt if you get sick; that families shouldn’t have to worry if their children need help -- (applause) -- that we are looking after each other enough to make sure that everybody has health care in this country.  (Applause.)

We're closer than we've ever been.  Five committees of Congress all voted out legislation.  As Tim said, the differences are starting to narrow and we're going to, pretty soon, be hitting the floor of the House and the Senate with bills; then we're going to reconcile them.  And then we're going to have to vote on them again.  And then I'm going to sign it.  (Applause.)   

Now, there are still some details and some disagreements that have to be worked out.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Single payer!

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Public option!

THE PRESIDENT:  Let me say this, because somebody just brought up something.  (Laughter.)  Among Democrats and progressives there are a whole set of views about how we should do health care.  But understand that the bill you least like in Congress right now, the one you least like of the five that are out there would provide 29 million Americans health care -- 29 million Americans who don't have it right now would get it.  The bill you least like would prevent insurance companies from barring you from getting health insurance because of preexisting conditions.  (Applause.)  Whatever the bill you least like would set up an exchange so that people right now who are having to try to bargain for health insurance on their own are suddenly part of a pool of millions that forces insurance companies to compete for their business and give them better deals and lower rates.  (Applause.)  

So there are going to be some disagreements and details to work out.  But to the Democrats, I want to say to you, Democrats, let's make sure that we keep our eye on the prize.  (Applause.)  And that is, all those millions of Americans who don't have health insurance and all those who do have health insurance that are seeing their costs go up, if we get a bill -- when we get a bill that delivers on those issues --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  When?

THE PRESIDENT:  When.  That's what I said.  (Applause.)  Then we have to do everything we can to support it.  You know, sometimes Democrats can be their own worst enemies.  (Applause.)  Democrats are an opinionated bunch.  (Applause.)  You know, the other side, they just kind of -- sometimes -- do what they're told.  (Laughter.)  Democrats, you all are thinking for yourselves.  (Applause.)  I like that in you.  But it's time for us to make sure that we finish the job here.  We are this close.  And we've got to be unified.  (Applause.)

And to all those non-Democrats who may be in the audience  -- (laughter) -- or who are watching our webcast, or who will hear about this on cable -- (laughter) -- I want you to know I believe in a strong and loyal opposition.  I believe in a two-party system where ideas are tested and assumptions are challenged.  That's made this legislation that we're working on better and more durable.  That's how our democracy works.  That's a good thing. 

But what I reject is when some folks decide to sit on the sidelines and root for failure on health care -- (applause) -- or they root for failure on reforming our energy system, or they root for failure on getting the Olympics.  I mean, who's against the Olympics?  (Laughter and applause.)  What's up with that?  (Laughter.)  You know?  That's a sad thing, isn’t it? 

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE PRESIDENT:  I mean, I don't care if you're Democrat or Republican -- you know, it's the Olympics.  (Laughter and applause.)  Come on!  (Applause.)  What I reject is when some folks, all they've got to say is, let's go back and do the things that we were doing that got us into this mess in the first place.  (Applause.)  That's all -- that's all they've got to say.  Like we forgot.  (Laughter.)  We didn’t forget.  It was only nine months ago.  (Laughter and applause.)  We understand exactly who and what got us into this mess.  (Applause.)  Now, we don't mind cleaning it up -- I'm grabbing my mop and my broom and -- (laughter) -- we're scrubbing the floors and trying to neaten things up. 

But don't just stand there and say, "You're not holding the mop right."  (Laughter and applause.)  Don't just stand there and say, "You're not mopping fast enough."  (Applause.)  Don't accuse me of having a socialist mop.  (Laughter and applause.)  Instead of standing on the sidelines, why don't you grab a mop?  (Applause.)  Help us clean up this mess and get America back on track!  (Applause.)  Grab a mop!  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Grab a mop!  Grab a mop!  Grab a mop!

THE PRESIDENT:  That's right.

AUDIENCE:  Grab a mop!  Grab a mop!  Grab a mop!

THE PRESIDENT:  Hey, I don't mind cleaning it up, but you know -- sheesh!  (Laughter.)  Feel a little shame.  Help out a little bit.  (Applause.)  All of us in Washington -- Democrats, Republicans -- we all have a responsibility to rise to this occasion; to look past our differences; recognize that we've got to move past the failed policies and broken politics that allowed our unresolved problems to stay unsolved for decades.  I will work with anyone and everyone that's willing to do exactly that.  And in their heart of hearts, even some of our opponents, they know.  They know.

We had Bill Frist and Bob Dole both say we need to do a health care bill.  Now, they didn’t endorse some specific bill.  They said, let's work constructively.  Of course, they're retired.  (Laughter.)  So they could go ahead and speak the truth.  But there are times, there are moments in this country where everybody needs to speak the truth -- and act on the truth.  (Applause.)   That's what people are counting on right now.

Look, I understand that a lot of folks are going through tough times right now, and understandably, they're feeling impatient.  They wish the minute we had gotten elected that suddenly things we're going to change overnight.  And I understand that because they feel a sense of urgency.  And we've all got to feel that sense of urgency.  But the thing is most people, their expectations are very modest.  They're not looking to government to solve all their problems.  They don't want a handout.  All they want is a chance to succeed; if they're willing to work, that they can find a job that pays a living wage -- (applause) -- that they don't have to worry about being bankrupt if they get sick; that they can send their kids to college so that they can do a little better than they did; that they can retire with some dignity and respect. 

And those things are within our grasp if we all work together.  People just want an opportunity to make the most of their lives.  And that's the chance that every American deserves.  That's the American Dream.  That's a promise I'm working to fulfill every day.  And that's why you're here.

This is such a rare moment in our history.  Now is not the time to start getting disillusioned, or now is not the time to start thinking, oh, this is too hard.  We've got this opportunity to change our world for the better.  But the change -- we said this in the campaign, it is true now -- it never starts in Washington.  It always starts with you.  It starts with ordinary people -- (applause) -- men and women who love their country, who are standing together and fighting for its future.  (Applause.)

It happens when citizens reject the cynicism and the skepticism, and all the pundits yakking about why we can't do that and we can't do this.  It's when you fight and you organize, you advocate, you walk the streets and you hit the phones -- and people slam the door in your faces and they say, "Uhh, get out of here, I'm not interested."  And you keep on doing it.  That's how we succeeded before.  That's how we'll succeed again.

So I just want everybody here to understand, we are in this for the long haul.  (Applause.)  Some of these changes may not happen in 18 months, or 36 months, or 72 months.  It's going to take time.  But I don't know about you, I just want to let you know -- just getting started.  (Applause.)  I'm not tired.  I don't know about you, but I'm not tired.  (Applause.)  All these folks who are throwing stuff at us and getting all crazy and -- you know, I'm just getting started.  I feel refreshed.  I feel energized.  (Applause.)  And it's because of you.  (Applause.)

So if you're willing to keep on going, if you're willing to keep on marching, then I guarantee you, we are going to succeed!  (Applause.)  "Yes we can" wasn’t just a motto.  That's what we're all about.  And we are going to pass health care; we are going to get energy done; we're going to get education done.  We are going to turn this country around! 

Thank you, New York.  God bless you.  (Applause.)  God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)
                                
END                                                            
8:35 P.M. EDT
                                                                                             

 

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
__________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                                                                             October 21, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT DNC FUNDRAISER DINNER

October 20, 2009

Mandarin Oriental Hotel
New York, New York

 

6:21 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody!  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you so much.  Thank you.  Please, everybody have a seat.  Back to your salads -- (laughter) -- or whatever they're serving.

It is good to be back in New York.  (Applause.)  Always great to be in New York.  I -- for those Yankee fans out there, you're still up 2 to 1.  (Applause.)  You should be all right.  I love this town, and I -- want to know how much I appreciate everything that so many of the people in this room have done, not just for me, but for the country as a whole.  There are a lot of folks here who were on the frontlines of our campaign, and people who devoted their time and their energy and their reputations to backing some guy nobody had ever heard of.  (Laughter.)  And I will never forget that.  And not a day goes by that I don't think about the obligations that I have as a consequence of this extraordinary honor that's been bestowed on me -- the obligation I've got to every American and everybody who put their hopes into a cause that wasn't just about winning an election, but was about changing the country. 

Now, it's been nine months since the Obama family packed up and moved to Washington.  And I want to report that Malia and Sasha are doing very well.  I got more requests for Malia and Sasha meetings during the photo line than -- (laughter) -- you can't afford a fundraiser involving Malia and Sasha.  (Laughter.)  I just want you to know.  I'm cheap.  You guys can't afford that.

They are doing great.  Michelle is obviously an extraordinary First Lady.  (Applause.)  And we've got Bo, my dog, who -- I now rank fourth in influence in the house -- (laughter) -- behind Michelle, Malia, and Sasha.  I'm slightly ahead of Bo.  (Laughter.)  But he's coming on fast.  (Laughter.)

It's important for all of us to remember, I think, what was happening less than a year ago when we walked into the Oval Office, because I notice that there's been a little bit of selective memory going on, some collective amnesia on the part of some folks about what we were facing.  We were seeing an economic crisis unlike any that we had seen in generations.  We were losing 700,000 jobs per month.  Our financial system was on the brinks -- brink of collapse.  Economists of every stripe were suggesting that we might slip into a Great Depression.  That was just nine months ago. 

And think about what we've done since that time.  We acted boldly and swiftly to pass a Recovery Act that's made a difference in the lives of families across America.  As promised, we put a tax cut in the pockets of 95 percent of working families in America -- the most progressive tax cut in history, benefiting 7 million families right here in New York.  (Applause.)

We extended and increased unemployment insurance to help 12 million people get by during tough times.  That's helped more than a million folks here in New York.  We made COBRA 65 percent cheaper so that if people were out there looking for jobs, they could actually still keep health care for themselves and their families.  (Applause.)

We provided relief to states, including New York, to make sure that teachers and firefighters and police officers weren't laid off.  According to initial reports, this has saved some 250,000 jobs in our schools all across America -- 250,000 jobs; teachers that would have been laid off had it not been for the Recovery Act.  We supported more than 30,000 loans to small businesses, including nearly 2,000 in this state, helping to create thousands of private sector jobs. 

But the Recovery Act wasn't just about tax cuts; it wasn't just about providing emergency relief for middle-class families and working families who bore the brunt of this recession.  It was also the largest investment in education in American history.  Think about that.  The largest investment in education in American history -- and one that is promoting reform in states all across the country.  It was the largest investment in clean energy in American history.  (Applause.)  It was the largest boost to medical research and basic research in American history.  (Applause.)  And it was the single largest investment in our nation's infrastructure since Eisenhower built the interstate highway system in the 1950s, an investment that's putting people to work all across this country rebuilding not just our roads and our bridges and crumbling schools, but also creating a whole new infrastructure, a smart grid to help clean energy travel from where it's produced to where it's needed -- broadband lines extending into communities that don't have it.

So that was pretty good for the first month.  (Applause.)  And then we kept on going, and we passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, because I think women should get paid the same as men for doing the same work.  (Applause.)  We lifted the ban on stem cell research to begin restoring science to its rightful place in America.  (Applause.)  We extended health insurance to 11 million children in America -- (applause) -- 4 million of whom previously had no insurance at all.

We passed a service bill named for Ted Kennedy, which is encouraging folks to give back to their communities all across the country, expanding Peace Corps and AmeriCorps.  We passed legislation to protect consumers from unfair rate hikes, and the most comprehensive credit card reform legislation in a generation.

We passed laws to make sure that our children weren't being targeted by big tobacco companies, housing fraud legislation.  These were all things that we had been fighting for for years, that we signed into law in the first nine months.

And for the first time in history, we've begun to put in place a new national policy aimed at both increasing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States.  (Applause.) 

And while I was in line, I was talking to a few folks who are involved in the environmental movement, and they will affirm -- we're not doing this with a lot of fanfare -- that we have been as productive in cleaning our environment and focusing on the big challenges having to do with our air and our water as any administration that's been around in a very long time.  For decades. 

If we stop now, if we didn't do anything else for the next three months, we would have had one of the most productive legislative sessions in decades -- already.  (Applause.)

Now, that's what we've been able to do at home.  I've got a few things going on abroad.  (Laughter.)  We've begun a new era of engagement.  We're working with our partners to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, to seek the long-term goal of a safer, more secure world that is free of nuclear weapons.  (Applause.)  We are -- we're working in concert with nations on just about every continent to stem our global economic downturn and to confront climate change.  We banned torture.  We're rebuilding our military.  We're reaffirming our alliances.  We've begun to leave Iraq to its own people.  We've made progress in taking the fight to al Qaeda, from Pakistan to Somalia to Indonesia.  We're making progress there, too.

But the reason you're here tonight, the reason I'm here tonight, the reason Tim Kaine is doing such an extraordinary job as our DNC chair, even though he's got another job as Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, is because we all know our work is far from over.  There's still far too many Americans who are out of work right now; they're seeing their hours and their wages reduced.  There are too many Americans who are subject to the whims of the insurance companies when it comes to their health care, being dropped or discriminated against because they've got a preexisting condition.  Too many millions can't afford insurance in the first place.

We know that we still face enormous challenges in this country, and that's not news to you.  Lately there had been some discussion -- you know, what's taking him so long?  Health care seems to -- it's been nine months, we haven't solved world hunger yet.  (Laughter and applause.)  And I try to explain to people, part of what was remarkable about the campaign that we ran, was it wasn't easy.  That's how we knew it was worth it.  We knew we were fighting against the status quo and fighting against inertia.  And it took a lot of hard work and a lot of effort and a lot of defying the odds.  That was part of what made it special. 

And I know you guys didn't sign up for this election because I was a sure thing.  And you didn't sign up because you thought that somehow all the fun stuff of the election would just keep on continuing into governing.  You know, the poster was nice, and we had "Yes we can," nice slogans -- (laughter) -- but that's not why you did this.  You did this because you understood that we were at a crossroads in our history; that the future of our children, our grandchildren, our great-grandchildren was going to be at stake, and that we were going to have to completely rethink how we were dealing with key sectors of our economy and key aspects of our national security.

So you understood that now is the time to build a clean energy economy that will free our nation from the grip of foreign oil and generate new green jobs in the process, jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced.  You understood that now is the time to transform our education system so that every child is prepared to compete in this new global economy, that now was the time to make sure that we put new rules of the road in our financial sector to prevent the kinds of abuse and excess on Wall Street that led us to this crisis.  You understood that.  And you also understood that the insurance companies and the banks and the oil companies might not be crazy about some of these changes; that they were doing just fine under the status quo.  So nobody thought this was going to be easy.  We talked about this during the campaign. 

While I'm in New York, I want to stress something about this financial reform effort.  The financial industry is essential to a healthy economy and to the well-being of our economy.  That's why we stepped in to prevent a collapse that would have had far-reaching and devastating consequences for the American people -- steps, by the way, that were not wildly popular and still aren't among the American people.  But it was the right thing to do.

But we also know we should never again have to face potential calamity because of reckless speculation and deceptive practices and short-sightedness and self-interestedness from a few.  So if there are members of the financial industry in the audience today, I would ask that you join us in passing what are necessary reforms.  Don't fight them, join us on them.  (Applause.) 

This is important for our country.  And in the long run it will be good for the financial industry to have a level playing field in which everybody knows the rules and everybody knows that the rules will be enforced, and people are competing not by how confusing you can make things and how you can avoid rules, but competing because you're offering innovative good products that are helping grow the American economy and putting people to work out on Main Street.

When I hear some folks who had just been taking taxpayer bailout money suddenly say, "What do you want from me?" -- when I hear stories about small businesses and medium-sized businesses not being able to get loans despite Wall Street being back, very profitable, that tells me that people aren't thinking about their obligations, our mutual obligations to each other, the fact that we're in this together.

So what's true for financial reform, what's true for energy reform, is also true for health insurance reform.  You know why this is so important.  You know if you're an employer, you've seen what's happening to the premiums that you're paying on behalf of your employees; and if you're an employee, you've how your employer is passing on some of those costs to you.  Premiums have doubled over the past decade.  They could double again in the next decade. 

Millions of people in this country have been discriminated against because of preexisting conditions.  More and more companies are dropping their coverage; more and more families struggling to pay health care even as insurance out-of-pocket costs rise year after year. 

Now, here's the good news.  We are closer than we have ever been to passing health insurance reform that will make quality, affordable -- (applause) -- that will make quality care affordable for people who don't have insurance, and it will bring stability and security to people who do have insurance, and that will slow the skyrocketing costs of health insurance for our families and our businesses, our state and federal budgets. 

Nothing could be more important in terms of getting our fiscal house in order than finishing the job on health reform.  There's still details to be ironed out, still disagreements that we've got to work out, but for the first time we've passed bills through every committee.  They are now starting to be narrowed.  There are negotiations taking place.  And we've got people who are engaging even if they don't want to engage because they're starting to realize it's not a matter of whether, it's a matter of when.

All the bills that have been passed, despite the various differences, all of them would provide help to millions of people who don't have coverage.  Understand, 29 million -- under the Baucus bill -- 29 million people who don't have health insurance would now have health insurance, according to the Congressional Budget Office. 

All the bills would prevent insurance companies from barring you because of preexisting conditions.  All of them would set up an exchange, a framework so that businesses, self-employed individuals, could buy in and leverage the fact that there are millions of people as part of a pool so that they can get a better deal.

So we are nearing the finish line.  With your help, we are going to cross it.  And there are going to be some fierce arguments in the days ahead.  That's how it should be.  That's how our democracy works.  But I want all the Democrats who are in the house -- (laughter) -- to understand what a profound potential achievement this is, and stay focused on the goal line.  Sometimes we like to have our little intramural battles; that's fine.  The American people need this.

I want all non-Democrats who may be here, or may be watching to know that I believe in a strong and loyal opposition.  I believe in a two-party system where ideas are tested and assumptions are challenged.  That's how we strengthen our proposals.  That's how our democracy works.  (Applause.)  But what I reject, what I don't have a lot of sympathy for is folks who are just sitting on the sidelines and rooting for failure, whether it's on health care, or energy, or the economy.  (Applause.)  What I reject is when some folks suggest that we go back to the policies that got us in the mess in the first place -- as if we didn’t just go through what we've been going through.

I said this before, last week at a fundraiser.  I don't mind cleaning up the mess that some other folks made.  That's what I signed up to do.  But while I'm there mopping the floor I don't want somebody standing there saying, "You're not mopping fast enough." Or, "You're not holding the mop the right way."  (Laughter.)  Grab a mop!  (Applause.)  Why don't you help clean up?  (Applause.) 

Everybody in Washington -- Democrat, Republican -- we all have a responsibility to rise to this occasion; to look past our differences; to recognize that we have to move beyond the failed policies and broken politics that allowed our toughest problems to go unsolved for decades.

When you look at the health care debate, and you've got a whole bunch of Republicans who are saying, yeah, we should do this -- except those are all retired Republicans -- Bob Dole and Bill Frist and -- last time I checked they're not socialist.  And they think it's important for us to get this done.  That's a model for what everybody needs to be thinking.  Roll up our sleeves and help to make this country the kind of country it should be.

In the end, the people I meet across this country, they aren't looking for a lot.  They're not looking for government to solve all their problems.  They just want a chance to succeed.  They are modest hopes -- they want a job; they want to be able to get an education.  If they've got a good idea, they want to be able to get some financing to start a business.  They want to retire with some dignity and respect.  They want to be able to send their kids to college.  They're asking for the opportunity to make the most of their own lives.  That's it.  It's the chance every American deserves.  That's the American Dream.  That's the promise I'm working to fulfill every day.

And at this rare moment in history, I want you all to know that without your help I can't do it.  Like I said before, what we're trying to do is big, and it's hard.  If it was easy, somebody else would have done it.  And it now falls to us.  And I hope that everybody here is willing to recapture that sense of excitement that comes from a big, but achievable challenge. 

Not the superficial excitement that comes from Election Day, but the excitement that comes from knowing we took on something that had to be taken on; we didn’t kick the can down the road, and we didn’t push it off on somebody else, but instead we decided we were going to be the generation that puts things on better footing for those coming behind us.

That's what tonight is about.  That is what our efforts are about.  And if you're willing to stand with me and work with me and occasionally march with me, I'm absolutely confident we're going to get it accomplished.

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

END                                                     
6:43 P.M. EDT
 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 20, 2009

Remarks by the President to Joint Terrorism Task Force Staff Members

Joint Terrorism Task Force Headquarters New York, New York

4:24 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you.  Please be seated.  Thank you so much.  It is great to be here today and I am honored to spend some time with the men and women who are working so hard, around the clock, to keep not only this city but also this country safe from terrorism.

I want to thank our outstanding FBI Director, Robert Mueller, for that kind and brief introduction.  As I've said before, these are incredibly challenging times for the FBI.  And for the last eight years, Bob has worked tirelessly to prevent additional attacks and keep this nation safe.  He's been doing a unbelievable job under very difficult and trying circumstances and we are grateful to him.

I also want to commend Police Commissioner Kelly, Assistant Director in Charge Joe Demarest, and all the leaders who've helped put together a team that is more integrated, more collaborative, and more effective than ever before.

Here at the Joint Terrorism Task Force, we have folks from the FBI working side by side with some of New York's finest, as well as countless federal, state, and local partners -- I was taking a look at the list and it looks like 45, 46 different agencies represented here.  Together, your success at thwarting terrorist attacks -- the strong intelligence you've gathered and the hard-nosed investigations you've pursued -- has proved to be a model for law enforcement officials across the country, and for that you should all be extremely proud.

No one knows better than you how important this work is, because you've always been on the front lines in fighting extremism.  Last month, we marked the eighth anniversary of the attacks on 9/11.  And on that terrible day, when terrorists brought so much death and destruction on our shores and so many lives were lost, many of you were the first on the scenes -- saving lives, working tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice, and guarding against future attacks in subsequent weeks and months and years.

That effort continues to this day -- quietly, doggedly, courageously.  Most New Yorkers, much less most Americans, probably don't know this office is here and they don't know what you do.  Obviously you're not doing it for the glamour or the glory or the pay.  You do it to serve and protect your country.  And because of the effort and the sacrifices that you're making on a daily basis, we are making real progress on our core missions:  disrupting and dismantling and ultimately defeating al Qaeda and its extremist allies.

I said this when I had a chance to speak to some of the NYPD leadership team last month over the phone, but I particularly want to express my appreciation and admiration for your terrific work -- especially in recent weeks.  Working together, you save countless lives, and your collaboration earned the respect and gratitude not just of New Yorkers but Americans everywhere.

This level of cooperation and integration is going to be critical in defeating the type of determined and resourceful -- and oftentimes in the shadows -- opponents that you're up against every day.  Nerve centers like this one help you share intelligence, answer questions, and give support instantly.  And because each organization is on its own, this task force has shown how much stronger all of you can be when you're actually working together.

You're setting the standard for everybody else, as I said, and you're showing us what focused and integrated counterterrorism work really looks like.  And the record of your service is written in the attacks that never occur -- because you thwarted them; and because of the countless Americans who are alive today as a consequence of that work.  And so America is in your debt for that.

Of course, we all know that we're facing a determined adversary.  They are resourceful, they are resilient, they are still plotting, as we have become all too aware.  No one can ever promise that there won't be another attack on America's soil.  But I can promise you this:  I pledge to do everything in my power as President of the United States to keep the American people safe.  And that means I pledge to give all of you the tools and the support that you need to get the job done, both here at home and around the world.  And I pledge that I will stay as focused on this mission as you are.

So we all have to redouble our efforts in the face of threats that persist.  We're going to have to draw strength from the values that we hold dear.  We're going to have to keep our eye fixed on the world we seek to build -- one that not just -- not only defeats our adversaries, but that also promotes dignity and opportunity and justice for all who stand with us.

To do that, I'm going to need all of you to continue the extraordinary work you do and the collaborations you do.  That's how we're going to prevail in this fight.  That's how we're going to protect this country that we love.

So I know that all of you are extraordinarily busy and I do not want to draw you away from the work that you do.  I just want to let you know that we appreciate it, we acknowledge it, we thank you for it, and I am going to continue to be standing behind you each and every step of the way.  So thank you very much, everybody.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

END                                      
4:31 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 20, 2009

Remarks by the President in Awarding the Presidential Unit Citation to Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry

Rose Garden

12:24 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody, and welcome to the White House.  And welcome to a moment nearly 40 years in the making.

Last month, I was privileged to present the parents of an American soldier, Sergeant First Class Jared Monti, with our nation's highest decoration for valor -- the Medal of Honor.  Today, we celebrate the awarding of our nation's highest honor for a military unit -- the Presidential Unit Citation.

The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded for "gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions."  Since its creation during the Second World War, it has only been bestowed about 100 times. 

Today, another unit assumes its rightful place in these ranks -- Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry, the legendary Blackhorse Regiment.

To mark this occasion we're joined by Congressman -- and Vietnam veteran -- Leonard Boswell; Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Jim "Hoss" Cartwright; John McHugh, our Army Secretary; and Vice Chief of Staff Peter Chiarelli; from Fort Irwin, California, leaders of today's 11th Armored Cavalry  -- Colonel Paul Laughlin and Command Sergeant Major Martin Wilcox; and most of all, the men of Alpha Troop -- those behind me and some 100 here today. 

Now, these men might be a little bit older, a little bit grayer.  But make no mistake -- these soldiers define the meaning of bravery and heroism.

It was March 1970, deep in the jungles of Vietnam.  And through the static and crackle of their radios Alpha Troop heard that another unit was in trouble.  Charlie Company, from the 1st Calvary Division, had stumbled upon a massive underground bunker of North Vietnamese troops.  A hundred Americans were facing some 400 enemy fighters.  Outnumbered and outgunned, Charlie Company was at risk of being overrun.

That's when Alpha Troop's captain gave the order:  "Saddle up and move out."   

As these men will tell you themselves, this isn't the story of a battle that changed the course of a war.  It never had a name, like Tet or Hue or Khe Sanh.  It never made the papers back home.  But like countless battles, known and unknown, it is a proud chapter in the story of the American soldier.

It's the story of men who came together, from every corner of America, of different colors and creeds.  Some young -- just 18, 19 years old, and just weeks in the jungle; some older -- veterans hardened by the ugliness of war.  Noncommissioned officers who held the unit together and the officers assigned to lead them.

It's the story of how this team of some 200 men set out to save their fellow Americans.  With no roads to speak of, they plowed their tanks and armored vehicles through the thick jungle, smashing a path through bamboo and underbrush, mile after mile, risking ambush and landmines every step of the way, and finally emerging from the jungle to the rescue -- what one member of Charlie Company called "a miracle."       

It's a story of resolve.  For Alpha Troop could have simply evacuated their comrades and left that enemy bunker for another day -- to ambush another American unit.  But as their captain said, "That's not what the 11th Cavalry does."

And so, ultimately, this is a story of what soldiers do -- not only for their country, but for each other:  the troopers who put themselves in the line of fire, using their tanks and vehicles to shield those trapped Americans; the loaders who kept the ammunition coming, and the gunners who never let up; and when one of those gunners went down, the soldier who jumped up to take his place. 

It's about the men who rushed out to drag their wounded buddies to safety; the medics who raced to save so many; the injured who kept fighting hour after hour.  And finally, with dark falling, as the convoy made the daring escape back through the jungle, these soldiers remained vigilant, protecting the wounded who lay at their feet.

The fog of war makes a full accounting impossible.  But this much we know.  Among the many casualties that day, some 20 members of Alpha Troop were wounded.  And at least two made the ultimate sacrifice -- their names now among the many etched in that black granite wall not far from here.  But because of that service, that sacrifice, Alpha Troop completed its mission.  It rescued Charlie Company.  It saved those 100 American soldiers, some of who join us today.  And those soldiers went on to have families -- children and grandchildren who also owe their lives to Alpha Troop.

Now, some may wonder:  After all these years, why honor this heroism now?  The answer is simple.  Because we must.  Because we have a sacred obligation.  As a nation, we have an obligation to this troop.  Their actions that day went largely unnoticed -- for decades -- until their old captain, John Poindexter, realized that their service had been overlooked.  He felt that he had a right to wrong.  And so he spent years tracking down his troopers and gathering their stories, filing reports, fighting for the Silver Stars and Bronze Stars they deserved and bringing us to this day. 

Thank you, John. 

We have an obligation to all who served in the jungles of Vietnam.  Our Vietnam vets answered their country's call and served with honor.  But one of the saddest episodes in American history was the fact that these vets were often shunned and neglected, even demonized when they came home.  That was a national disgrace.  And on days such as this, we resolve to never let it happen again. 

Many of our Vietnam vets put away their medals, rarely spoke of their service and moved on.  They started families and careers.  Some rose through the ranks, like the decorated Vietnam veteran that I rely on every day, my National Security Advisor, Jim Jones.

Indeed, I'm told that today is the first time in 39 years that many from Alpha Troop have pulled out their medals and joined their old troop.  Some of you still carry the shrapnel and the scars of that day.  All of you carry the memories.  And so I say, it's never too late, we can never say it enough.  To you and all those who served in Vietnam, we thank you.  We honor your service.  And America is forever grateful. 

Today also reminds us of our obligations to all our veterans, whether they took off the uniform decades ago or days ago -- to make sure that they and their families receive the respect they deserve, and the health care and treatment they need, the benefits they have earned and all the opportunities to live out their dreams.

And finally, if that day in the jungle, if that war long ago, teaches us anything, then surely it is this.  If we send our men and women in uniform into harm's way, then it must be only when it is absolutely necessary.  And when we do, we must back them up with the strategy and the resources and the support they need to get the job done. 

This includes always showing our troops the respect and dignity they deserve, whether one agrees with the mission or not. For if this troop and our men and women in uniform can come together -- from so many different backgrounds and beliefs -- to serve together, and to succeed together, then so can we.  So can America.  

I cannot imagine a more fitting tribute to these men, who fought in what came to be called The Anonymous Battle.  Troopers, you are not anonymous anymore.  And with America's overdue recognition also comes responsibility -- our responsibility as citizens and as a nation, to always remain worthy of your service.

God bless Alpha Troop and the 11th Armored Cavalry.  God bless all those who wear this nation's uniform.  And God bless the United States of America.

Thank you very much, everybody.  (Applause.) 

  END

12:33 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 20, 2009

Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Maliki of Iraq After Meeting

Oval Office

11:58 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Hello, everybody.  Before I discuss the meeting that I've just had with Prime Minister Maliki I just want to make a brief statement about Afghanistan.

I had the opportunity to speak with President Karzai this morning and I wanted to congratulate him on accepting the certification of the recent election.  As we all know, this has been a very difficult time in Afghanistan to not only carry out a election under difficult circumstances, where there were a whole host of security issues that had to be resolved, but also post-election a lot of uncertainty.

President Karzai, as well as the other candidates, I think have shown that they have the interest of the Afghan people at heart, that this is a reflection of a commitment to rule of law, and an insistence that the Afghan people's will should be done.  And so I expressed the American people's appreciation for this step.

As I mentioned before, this has been a difficult election.  You have violent forces opposed to democracy in Afghanistan.  And yet despite these very difficult conditions what we've seen is elections take place; we have now seen the IEC and the ECC in Afghanistan complete their work; we have seen the candidates expressing a willingness to abide by constitutional law, and there is a path forward in order to complete this election process.

I want to give particular thanks to Ambassador Karl Eikenberry and his team, who have been working tirelessly throughout this process.  I also want to commend Senator John Kerry, who was in the region traveling and ended up working extensively with Ambassador Eikenberry and was extraordinarily constructive and very helpful.  So I think he deserves great congratulations.

Moving forward, we will continue to work with our ISAF partners as well as the Afghan government, however this election turns out, to ensure that we can move the Afghan -- that we can move Afghanistan towards peace and security and prosperity and that the will of the Afghan people is ultimately done.  So we are pleased with the steps that have been taken today and we hope that we can build on this progress.

I finally want to thank the incredible work of our U.S. military and the young men and women who are stationed in Afghanistan who are doing so much to help bring about a more secure and prosperous and democratic Afghanistan.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to see Prime Minister Maliki once again.  We had a wide-ranging discussion about the continuing progress that Iraq is making.  We have seen in the last several months a consolidation of a commitment to democratic politics inside of Iraq.  We are very interested, both of us, in making sure that Iraq has an election law that is completed on time so that elections can take place on time in January.  That is consistent with the transition that has been taking place, and I reemphasized my commitment to Prime Minister Maliki that we will have our combat troops out of Iraq by August of next year, and all of our troops out of Iraq by 2011.

But we didn't just talk about military and security issues.  What is wonderful about this trip is that it represents a transition in our bilateral relationship so that we are moving now to issues beyond security and we are beginning to talk about economy, trade, commerce.  The business and investment conference that's taking place is going to be very well attended.  It includes not only Prime Minister Maliki but business leaders from both the United States and Iraq.  We've seen over the last several months progress being made on providing clarification about investment laws inside of Iraq.  There are obviously enormous opportunities for our countries to do business together.

And so I just want to congratulate Prime Minister Maliki on what I'm confident will be a successful conference and to reemphasize my administration's full support for all the steps that can be taken so that Iraq can not only be a secure place and a democratic country, but also a place where people can do business, people can find work, families can make a living, and children are well educated.  And that broader sense of a U.S. relationship with a democratic Iraq is one that I think all of us are confident we can now achieve.

So thank you so much for your presence here today.

And I don't know if you -- maybe we could translate the last part just about Iraq, as opposed to Afghanistan, just in case there's --

(Translation provided.)

PRIME MINISTER MALIKI:  (As translated.)  Thank you, Mr. President, and this opportunity to hold the business investment conference is a big economic demonstration and manifestation of the importance of this event that brings together more than 1,000 business entrepreneurs and a very distinguished high-level Iraqi delegation.

I have also discussed with President Obama the various issues and the fact that our relations today have moved along and not only confined to the security cooperation, but today have moved to the economic development and to providing prosperity for the Iraqi people.

We have discussed the issues of common interest to our bilateral relations under the -- that are today framed under the strategic framework agreement and the various sectors, and all this is important for broader relation of our two nations.

We have also discussed the issue of the elections and the importance that these elections be held on time based on the national principles.  We have also commended on the role of the United States that supports Iraq and the importance to end the international sanctions on Iraq and to remove Iraq from under Chapter 7, because we don't have weapons of mass destruction anymore, and today that we have put forth a lot of common sacrifices, and today that there is a pluralistic political system in Iraq.  This is important to move Iraq forward and to promote investment.

We will follow up on the outcome of the business investment conference in its various sectors because today Iraq has moved beyond a dictatorship and beyond the destruction and we are trying to rebuild all our sectors of agriculture, oil sectors, tourism and so forth.  We want to give the U.S. companies an opportunity to be present in investing in Iraq, and all this cooperation on the basis of the strategic framework agreement.

I thank you very much.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Okay, thank you, everybody.

END         

12:12 P.M. EDT