Remarks by The President at Rally for Gary Peters and Mark Schauer -- Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

7:09 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Detroit! (Applause.) It’s good to be back in Michigan! (Applause.) It’s good to be back at Wayne State! (Applause.) Go, Warriors!

Give it up for a Wayne State alum, your next senator, Gary Peters! (Applause.) Give it up for your next governor, Mark Schauer! (Applause.) We’ve got some outstanding lawmakers who are here today -- my friend, Carl Levin -- (applause) -- Debbie Stabenow -- (applause) -- John Conyers -- (applause) -- Sandy Levin. (Applause.) We’ve got the dean of the House, John Dingell -- (applause) -- the next representative from Michigan’s 12th, Debbie Dingell. (Applause.) We've got a full house. (Applause.) We've got folks fired up! (Applause.) We've got folks ready to go! (Applause.)

Three days. Three days, Michigan. Three days. Three days until you get to choose a new governor and a new senator. And here’s what you’ve got to do until then. If you came to this rally, I know you also are going to go vote or -- I don't worry about you. I need you to grab a friend. (Applause.) I need you to get some classmates. I need you to get some coworkers. I need you to knock on some doors and make some phone calls. (Applause.) I need you to visit Iwillvote.com, find your polling place. Take everybody you know to cast their ballots for Gary Peters and Mark Schauer. (Applause.) And then tell them to vote for Lisa Brown and Mark Totten and Godfrey Dillard and Warren Evans and Brenda Lawrence. Tell them to vote. Tell them to vote. (Applause.)

Let me tell you why.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you!

THE PRESIDENT: I love you, too. But I want to tell you why you need to vote. (Applause.) This country has made real progress since the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes. Over the past four and a half years, we have seen American businesses create more than 10 million new jobs. Over the past six months, our economy has grown at the fastest pace in more than 10 years.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Thank you!

THE PRESIDENT: I don't have to tell you the auto industry that was on the brink of collapse is back on its feet, making better cars than ever, right here in Michigan. (Applause.) It’s a testament to the grit and the resilience of American workers. (Applause.) We’ve got some leaders here who stick up for working folks every single day. We got Mary Kay Henry from SEIU. (Applause.) We've got Lily Eskelsen Garcia from the NEA. We've got Dennis Williams from the UAW. We've got some labor leaders here who know what it means to fight for working families. (Applause.)

And because of the strength and resilience of the American worker, the auto industry has come back. Housing is beginning to recover. We've seen progress on almost every economic measure. But we are here tonight because we know we’ve got more work to do. As fast as we've been moving, we know we’d be moving faster if a lot more of our politicians lived by the same values of hard work and responsibility that the ordinary people they represent take with them every single day when they go to the job. (Applause.) And over the next week, you’ve got a chance to make that happen. You have the chance to choose leaders that don’t put political ideology first, that don't put just winning an election first -- they put you first. (Applause.)

And you couldn't have a better example than Mark and Gary. (Applause.) You couldn't have a better example of the kind of leaders you want. I mean, look at these two guys. They’ve spent their entire lives in Michigan. Mark ran a non-profit that helped unemployed workers get back on their feet. Gary helped folks save for college and retirement as a financial planner. Then he served in the Navy Reserve. They ran for office for the same reason -- to fight for hardworking families like yours, because your story is their story. (Applause.)

They weren't born with a silver spoon in their mouths. They know what it's like to struggle. They know what it's like to have to work hard and piece together a budget and save. And they know what it's like when their parents or grandparents make sacrifices for them. And since they’ve taken office they’ve led. They led to clean up the Great Lakes. They helped to cut taxes for Michigan’s small businesses and invest in new, high-tech manufacturing. (Applause.) They fought to give Michigan’s minimum wage workers the raise they deserve.

When the chips were down and our most iconic industry was on the line, they said, we shouldn’t walk away. (Applause.) If the auto industry went down, communities across this state and Midwest would have gone down, too. So Mark and Gary placed their bet on Michigan. They placed their bet on American workers, making American products. (Applause.) And thanks to the grit and ingenuity and pride of American workers, that bet that they made paid off in a big way. (Applause.)

Now some of the folks who figured we should have thrown in the towel six years ago are the same folks who are asking you for your vote next week. They got a lot of nerve. (Applause.) They got a lot of nerve. If they’re not there for you when you need them -- (laughter) -- I think you should vote for Mark and Gary instead. (Applause.) That's what I think. Because you know they had your backs, and now we got to have theirs. (Applause.)

And that’s what this election is all about, Michigan. When you step into that voting booth, you are making a choice not just about candidates or parties. You're making a choice about two different visions of what America is about. And it boils down to a simple question: Who is on your side? Who’s going to fight for you? Who’s going to fight for your future?

Now, I want to be clear. Republicans are good people, they’re patriots. They love their country. They love their family --

AUDIENCE: Booo --

THE PRESIDENT: Don't boo -- vote. (Applause.) No, but I mean what I say here. Listen, I mean what I say. We're all Americans. We're all Americans. We're Americans first. So they’re patriots. They love this country. But they’ve got bad ideas.

AUDIENCE: That's right!

THE PRESIDENT: And I always try to explain -- look, I've got members of my family who I love and have bad ideas. (Laughter.) I still love them. I just wouldn't put them in charge. (Laughter.) Right? You all have got somebody in your family like that. You're going to have them over for Thanksgiving, but you don't want to put them in charge. (Laughter.) Am I right? (Applause.)

And the worst idea they’ve got is this same economic theory that they just keep on putting out that we know undermines the middle class: More tax breaks for folks at the top. Less investment in education. Looser rules on big banks and credit card companies and polluters. A thinner safety net for folks when they fall on hard times. You know what -- we've tried those things.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: They don't work!

THE PRESIDENT: They don't work. (Applause.) Don't work. I mean, it would be one thing if we hadn’t tried them. We might say, okay, well, maybe that works. (Laughter.) But when you’ve done it again and again, and each time the middle class has a tougher time, and the folks at the top are doing better and better, I don't know why we would think it would work differently this time. (Applause.)

They’re not changing their tune either. Every time the Republican Party leaders in Washington had to take a stand this year on policies that would help the middle class, their answer was no. They said no to raising the minimum wage. They said no to fair pay legislation to make sure women get paid the same as men for doing the same job. They said no to helping young people refinance their student loans. They actually voted for rules that would make it more expensive for students when they take out student loans.

The only thing they voted yes on was another massive tax cut for millionaires. I know that's shocking, but it's true. And it's the clearest display of whose side they’re on. The same Washington Republicans who blocked a $2.85-an-hour raise for some of the hardest working people in America -- the folks who clean up your bedpans, the folks that make up and take care of seniors -- they made clear that they’re not going to do that. One of the first things they do is change the rules to jam tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans through. They’re not going to raise the minimum wage.

Their leadership said tax cuts for those at the top are “even more pressing now” than they were 30 years ago. That's what they said. When one of George W. Bush’s economic advisors took a look at how many jobs their agenda would create, he said, “not many.” That’s George W. Bush’s advisor admitting. They don't have an agenda for the middle class. They don't have an agenda for Detroit. They don't have an agenda for Michigan. At a time when nearly all the gains of this recovery are flowing to the top 1 percent, cutting taxes for those same folks doesn’t make any sense. It’s the wrong vision for the future. (Applause.)

But the good news is Mark and Gary have a different vision -- (applause) -- a vision rooted in the conviction that in America, prosperity does not trickle down from the top, it comes up from folks who are working every single day, middle-class folks, folks trying to work hard to get into the middle class. (Applause.) That's what we believe as Democrats. That's what we believe here in Michigan. (Applause.) We believe in an economy that grows for the many, not the few.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: That's right!

THE PRESIDENT: Mark and Gary are not running to give tax breaks to folks who don't need them. He’s running to build economies -- Michigan’s economy from the middle class out. (Applause.) They know that ideas to create jobs, they’re not Democrat or Republican, but they got to work. They got to work. And they know that education, for example, isn’t just the key to economic growth, it’s the surest path into the middle class. (Applause.) They’re not going to slash investments in schools, or make it harder for students to go to college. They’re going to make it easier for students to go to college, and make sure teachers are respected, and make sure we got early childhood education for our kids. (Applause.) That's what they’re going to run on. (Applause.)

We believe that in America, public servants should work for the people they represent. (Applause.) Instead of wasting taxpayer dollars on frivolous lawsuits or ideological crusades, Mark and Gary will spend their time protecting ordinary citizens, making your lives better. And by the way, as your next Attorney General, that’s what former prosecutor Mark Totten will focus on, too. (Applause.) Looking out for you.

Let me tell you something else that Mark and Gary believe in. They don't think if you're working full-time in this country you should be raising your family in poverty. They’re not backed by special interests who think that the minimum wage is something we should get rid of. They’re running because they think we should champion the efforts of folks who work hard but still have trouble paying the bills at the end of the month. That's what they believe. That's what they’re going to fight for. And if you believe that too, you’ve got to vote. (Applause.)

Mark and Gary believe that the economy is stronger when women are full participants in our economy. (Applause.) I already told you Republicans said no to a national fair pay law. One of the Republicans running for national office, he said -- I'm quoting here -- he said, “You could argue that money is more important for men.”

AUDIENCE: Nooo --

THE PRESIDENT: That's a quote. Now, I don't know what woman he talked to. (Laughter.) He didn’t talk to you. Did he talk to you? No.

AUDIENCE: No!

THE PRESIDENT: I know he didn’t talk to Michelle. (Laughter.) No. See, if you're going to strengthen the 21st century economy, you’ve got to be in the 21st century. (Applause.) You’ve got to understand that women make up an increasing part of the workforce. They’re bringing home more of the bacon. (Applause.) They need to be paid fairly and treated fairly. (Applause.)

And just like Gary talked about, we've got to make sure that women control their own health care choices. (Applause.) Not their boss, or their insurer, and certainly not any politician. (Applause.) It’s funny, if you ask a Republican in Congress if they believe in climate change, they say, well, uh, I’m not a scientist. “I'm not a scientist” -- that's what they say. But when it comes to a woman’s right to choose, suddenly they’re a doctor. (Laughter and applause.) Come on, now. They got to update their attitudes.

AUDIENCE: Yes!

THE PRESIDENT: “Mad Men” is a good show. I like that show. But it's set in the ‘60s. We're now in the 21st century. And we got to understand that in America, when women succeed, America succeeds. (Applause.)

So, look, here’s the bottom line. I know that, as I said, if you're here you're going to vote. I get that. But I want you to feel a sense of urgency these last three days. The biggest corporations don’t need another champion. The wealthiest Americans don’t need another champion. You do. (Applause.) Opportunity for a few is not what Michigan is about -- opportunity for all is what built the middle class in this country.

And that’s why you’ve got to vote. If you want something better, you got to vote for it. You got to work for it. (Applause.) If you believe working families need a tax break, not millionaires -- you got to vote it. (Applause.) If you think we should invest in our children’s schools, and give teachers more support, and get early childhood education in place so young people get a good start in life, and young people going to college aren't burdened with tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of debt -- you got to vote for it. You got to fight for it. (Applause.) If you think that folks who work hard should get an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work -- you got to vote for it. (Applause.)

You know, I tell you, we give away our power all the time. Some of you know I started as a community organizer. And when I talked to folks in the community the first thing I'd say is, why do you give away your power? And they’d say, what do you mean? And I'd say, well, you don't bother voting. You sit at home and complain. But complaining and not voting, that means you're just giving away your power. (Applause.) That means you are -- you're giving away your precious right to help determine the course of your nation.

So, look, Michigan, you’ve had my back twice. (Applause.) You’ve had my back twice. I love this state. But here’s the problem. In recent years, Michigan has led the nation in the number of voters who vote for President but then stay home during the midterms. According to one estimate, you got 900,000 folks in Michigan who voted in 2008 and then didn’t vote in 2010 -- 900,000. I don't know what’s going on with those folks. But we've got to let them know their vote matters.

AUDIENCE: Yes!

THE PRESIDENT: Their vote could decide whether 28 million American workers get the raise they deserve. (Applause.) Whether American families continue to benefit from new health care coverage -- because, I don't know if you’ve noticed, but Obamacare works. (Applause.) Pretty soon they’re not going to call it Obamacare anymore. (Laughter.) You know that's right. (Laughter.)

Your vote will decide the course that Michigan takes from here. So Gary needs your vote, and Mark needs your vote. I need your vote. But I also need you to go out there and get involved in these closing days. Talk to one of the organizers who are in the room. Or go to Mark-Schauer.com. Or go to Peters-for-Michigan.com. Volunteer for these last three days. Make some phone calls these last three days. Knock on some doors these last three days. (Applause.) Grab somebody you know -- get them to vote for Mark. Get them to vote for Gary.

This election is too important to stay home. Don't let somebody else choose your future for you. (Applause.) When we vote, we win. (Applause.) When we vote, we win. When we vote --

AUDIENCE: We win!

THE PRESIDENT: -- we win.

The hardest thing in politics is changing the status quo. When you got a lot of people in power, they care about just keeping power, they don't care about helping you. And they count on you getting cynical. They count on you thinking you can't make a difference. They hope you don't get involved. They hope you don't organize. They hope you don't vote. And every day, they’re sending you a message that you don't count.

Don’t buy it. Despite all the cynicism, America is making progress. Despite the unyielding opposition of folks on the other side, there are workers who have jobs today who didn’t have them before. (Applause.) There are auto plants that got shifts that weren't there before. (Applause.) There are families who have health insurance who didn’t have it before. (Applause.) There are students who are going to college who couldn’t afford it before. (Applause.) There are troops who’ve been coming home from Afghanistan who weren't home before. (Applause.) There are the best car in America and in the world rolling off assembly lines right here in Michigan, right here in the United States, that weren't coming off those assembly lines before. (Applause.)

Don't let them tell you that your vote doesn’t matter. Don't get cynical. Cynicism didn’t put a man on the moon.

AUDIENCE: No!

THE PRESIDENT: Cynicism never cured a disease, or started a business, or built a V-8 engine, or taught a young mind. Cynicism is a choice. And hope is a better choice. (Applause.) Hope is what defeated fascism. Hope is what gave young people the strength to march for civil rights, and voting rights, and gay rights, and immigrants’ rights, and women’s rights. (Applause.) Hope that there are better days ahead. Hope that we can rebuild our middle class and pass on to our kids something better. That's what built America. That's what Motor City is all about. That's what built Michigan! (Applause.)

Our best days are still ahead. Believe it. And vote for Mark, and vote for Gary. And let’s get out there and win this thing. (Applause.)

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

END
7:30 P.M. EDT

Weekly Address: It’s Time to Help Women and Working Families

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, the President highlighted the progress our economy is making, and the commonsense policies that could make it even stronger by ensuring that everyone who works hard has the opportunity to get ahead, especially women and working families. This commitment has been a core part of the President’s Year of Action and a priority since the start of his administration, which is why he has put forth a range of policies that would help women and working families get ahead, from raising the minimum wage, to ensuring equal pay for equal work, to increasing access to high-quality child care and paid family leave. This week’s address follows remarks the President delivered on Friday at Rhode Island College, where he discussed the importance of harnessing our economy’s momentum by making policy choices that will help women and all working parents fully participate in and contribute to our economy.

The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, November 1, 2014.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
November 1, 2014

Hi, everybody.  On Friday, I had a discussion with working women in Rhode Island about the economic challenges they face in their own lives -- challenges shared by many of you.

Thanks to the work we’ve all put in, our economy has come a long way these past six years. Over the past 55 months, our businesses have added 10.3 million new jobs. For the first time in six years, the unemployment rate is below 6 percent. And on Thursday, we learned that over the past six months, our economy has grown at its fastest pace since 2003.

But the gains of a growing economy aren’t yet felt by everyone. So we’ve got to harness this momentum, and make the right choices so that everyone who works hard can get ahead.

In recent weeks, I’ve talked about these choices, from raising the minimum wage to creating new jobs in construction and manufacturing. Today, I want to focus on what I discussed with those women -- the choices we need to make to help more women get ahead in today’s economy.

Right now, women make up almost half of our workers. More women are their family’s main breadwinner than ever before. So the simple truth is, when women succeed, America succeeds. And we should be choosing policies that benefit women -- because that benefits all of us.

Women deserve fair pay. Even though it’s 2014, there are women still earning less than men for doing the same work. We don’t have second-class citizens in this country -- we shouldn’t in the workplace, either. So let’s make sure women earn equal pay for equal work, and have a fair shot at success.

Women deserve to be able to take time off to care for a new baby, an ailing parent, or take a sick day for themselves without running into hardship. So let’s make sure all Americans have access to paid family leave.

Pregnant workers deserve to be treated fairly. Even today, women can be fired for taking too many bathroom breaks, or forced on unpaid leave just for being pregnant. That’s wrong -- and we have to choose policies that ensure pregnant workers are treated with dignity and respect.

New parents deserve quality, affordable childcare. There’s nothing like the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your kids are safe while you’re at work. And the benefits that children get out of early enrichment can pay off for a lifetime. But in many states, sending your kid to daycare costs more than sending them to a public university. So let’s start demanding Pre-K for our kids.

And when most low-wage workers are women, but Congress hasn’t passed a minimum wage increase in seven years, it’s long past time that women deserve a raise. About 28 million workers would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage to ten dollars and ten cents an hour. And more than half of those workers are women. The local businesses where these workers spend their money would benefit, too. So let’s do this -- let’s give America a raise.

All of these policies are common sense. All of them are within our reach. We’ve just got to speak up and choose them. Because they’ll build a stronger America for all of us.

Thanks, and have a great weekend.

Remarks by the President on Women and the Economy -- Providence, RI

Rhode Island College
Providence, Rhode Island

11:24 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody!  (Applause.)  Can everybody please give Lisbeth a big round of applause?  That was a great introduction.  (Applause.) 

Happy Halloween, everybody.  I see a lot of you came as college students.  (Applause.) 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you!

THE PRESIDENT:  I love you, too.  Those of you who have seats, feel free to sit down.  Those of you who don’t, don’t.  (Laughter.)  I am not going to be too long.  I’ve got to get back and trick-or-treat tonight with Michelle.  Although, Malia and Sasha are a little old --

AUDIENCE:  Aww --

THE PRESIDENT:  It’s so sad.  (Laughter.)  I used to be able to -- we’d dress them up, and we still have the pictures.  They’ll resent them later, but at the time they were fine with it.  They were so cute. 

A good thing about being President is we never run out of Presidential M&Ms -- (laughter) -- so we’re going to be giving those out.

AUDIENCE:  (Inaudible.)  (Laughter.) 

THE PRESIDENT:  You want some?  Is that what you said?  Only to kids.  (Laughter.) 

We’re so proud of Lisbeth, not just for the wonderful introduction but for being so determined about her education.  And she’s a really remarkable young lady.  I had a chance to speak to her before we came out.  It turns out she went to school with my niece and nephew --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Classical!

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s right.  At Classical, is that right?  So that was neat.

I have also brought some Halloween characters with me:  Our Secretary of Labor, Tom Perez.  (Applause.)  They are all dressed up as really outstanding public servants.  (Laughter.)  And Tom has just been doing extraordinary work.  His lovely daughter is there, who’s a freshman at Brown.  Your great senators, Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse.  (Applause.)  Your outstanding Congressman, David Cicilline, is here.  (Applause.)  Jim Langevin is here.  (Applause.)  And we’re proud of both of them. 

But despite how much I love all the folks I just mentioned, the people I really came to see is you.  (Applause.)  Because every decision I make every single day -- all the policies I pursue as President -- are all aimed at making sure we restore the promise of this country for your generation and for every generation that comes after.

Now, the good news is we’ve made a lot of progress since the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes.  So when I first came into office, the economy was in a freefall, the auto industry was in a freefall.  Banks were frozen up.  We were losing 800,000 jobs a month.  Over the past 55 months, our businesses have now added 10.3 million new jobs.  (Applause.)  For the first time in more than six years, the unemployment rate is below 6 percent.  Over the past six months, our economy has grown at its fastest pace in more than 10 years.

And in education, dropout rates are down, the national graduation rate is the highest on record, more young people are earning their college degrees than ever before.  (Applause.)  Good job, young people. 

In energy, we’re less dependent on foreign oil than any time in nearly three decades.  Manufacturing -- the quintessential producer of middle-class jobs, the heart of Rhode Island’s economy for decades -- manufacturing has now created 700,000 new jobs since early 2010.  Ten million Americans have gained the peace of mind that comes with having health insurance.  (Applause.) 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Thank you!

THE PRESIDENT:  You’re welcome. 

Deficits have come down.  Health care inflation has come down.  There’s almost no economic measure by which we haven't made substantial progress over this period of time.  We’re better off than we were.  (Applause.) 

So, look, the progress has been hard.  It’s sometimes been challenging in particular states.  But it’s been steady and it’s been real.  Now, the thing is, though, what’s also true is that millions of Americans don’t yet feel the benefits of a growing economy where it matters most -- and that’s in their own lives.  There are still a lot of folks who are working hard, but having trouble making ends meet. 

I know that many of you are working while you go to school.  Some of you are helping support your parents or siblings.  Here in Rhode Island, and across the country, there are still too many people who are working too many hours and don’t have enough to show for it.  And this isn’t just the hangover from the Great Recession; some of this has to do with trends that date back 20, 30 years.  And I’ve always said that recovering from the crisis of 2008 was the first thing we had to do, but our economy won’t be healthy until we reverse some of these longer-term trends, this erosion of middle-class jobs and income. 

And here in Rhode Island, my administration recently announced a grant to help more long-term unemployed folks get the training and mentoring they need to get back to work.  (Applause.)  And all across the country, we’re taking similar actions, community by community, to keep making progress.

We’ve got to harness the momentum that we’re seeing in the broader economy and make sure the economy is working for every single American.  We’ve got to keep making smart choices.  And today, here at RIC, I want to focus on some common-sense steps we can take to help working families right now.  In particular, I want to zero in on the choices we need to make to ensure that women are full and equal participants in the economy.  (Applause.) 

Now, men, I don’t want you to feel neglected.  I like men just fine.  (Laughter.)  But part of the reason that I want this focus is because I was raised by a single mom, and know what it was like for her to raise two kids and go to work at the same time, and try to piece things together without a lot of support.  And my grandmother, who never graduated from college but worked her way up to become vice president of a bank, I know what it was like for her to hit the glass ceiling, and to see herself passed over for promotions by people that she had trained.  And so some of this is personal, but some of it is also what we know about our economy, which is it’s changing in profound ways, and in many ways for the better because of the participation of women more fully in our economy. 

So earlier today, I met with a group of women business owners and working moms, and Lisbeth and your president here, and they were sharing stories that probably sound familiar to a lot of people -- studying for finals after working a full shift; searching for childcare when the babysitter cancels at the last minute; using every penny of their savings so they can afford to stay home with their new baby. 

And so I kept on hearing my own story.  I kept on hearing about my mom struggling to put herself through school, or my grandmother hitting that glass ceiling.  And I thought about Michelle, and I told some stories about when Michelle and I were younger and getting starting, and we were struggling to balance two careers while raising a family.  And my job forced me to travel a lot, which made it harder on Michelle, and we would feel some of the guilt that so many people feel -- we’re working, we’re thinking about the kids, we’re wondering whether we’re bad parents, we’re wondering whether we were doing what we need to do on the job.  And as the catch-22 of working parents, we wanted to spend time with our kids, but we also wanted to make sure that we gave them the opportunities that our hard work was providing. 

And then, of course, I think about my daughters.  And the idea that my daughters wouldn’t have the same opportunities as somebody’s sons -- well, that’s unacceptable.  That’s not acceptable.  (Applause.) 

So I say all this because -- to the men here, we all have a stake in choosing policies that help women succeed.  Women make up about half of America’s workforce.  (Applause.)  For more than two decades, women have earned over half of the higher education degrees awarded in this country.  And you look at the RIC student body, almost 70 percent women.  (Applause.)  In colleges nationwide, there are more women graduating than men -- which means that for the first time, America’s highly educated workforce will be made up of more women than men.  (Applause.) 

But here’s the challenge -- that’s all good news -- the challenge is, our economy and some of the laws and rules governing our workplaces haven’t caught up with that reality.  A lot of workplaces haven’t caught up with that reality.  So while many women are working hard to support themselves and their families, they’re still facing unfair choices, outdated workplace policies.  That holds them back, but it also holds all of us back.  We have to do better, because women deserve better.  And, by the way, when women do well, everybody does well.  (Applause.) 

So women deserve a day off to care for a sick child or sick parent without running into hardship.  And Rhode Island has got the right idea.  You’re one of just three states where paid family leave is the law of the land.  (Applause.)  More states should choose to follow your lead. 

It was interesting talking to some of the small business owners in the meeting.  They were saying how the Rhode Island law actually helped them do a better job recruiting and retaining outstanding employees.  And so that shows you something -- that this is not just a nice thing to do; it’s good policy.  It’s good for business.  It’s good for the economy.  (Applause.) 

Without paid leave, when a baby arrives or an aging parent needs help, workers have to make painful decisions about whether they can afford to be there when their families need them most.  Many women can’t even get a paid day off to give birth to their child.  I mean, there are a lot of companies that still don’t provide maternity leave.  Of course, dads should be there, too.  So let’s make this happen for women and for men, and make our economy stronger.  (Applause.)  We’ve got to broaden our laws for family leave.

Moms and dads deserve a great place to drop their kids off every day that doesn’t cost them an arm and a leg.  We need better childcare, daycare, early childhood education policies.  (Applause.)  In many states, sending your child to daycare costs more than sending them to a public university. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  True!

THE PRESIDENT:  True.  (Laughter.)  And too often, parents have no choice but to put their kids in cheaper daycare that maybe doesn’t have the kinds of programming that makes a big difference in a child’s development.  And sometimes there may just not be any slots, or the best programs may be too far away.  And sometimes, someone, usually mom, leaves the workplace to stay home with the kids, which then leaves her earning a lower wage for the rest of her life as a result.  And that’s not a choice we want Americans to make. 

So let’s make this happen.  By the end of this decade, let’s enroll 6 million children in high-quality preschool, and let’s make sure that we are making America stronger.  That is good for families; it’s also good for the children, because we know investing in high-quality early childhood education makes all the difference in the world, and those kids will do better. So we need family leave, we need better child care policies, and we need to make sure that women get an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work.  (Applause.)   

About 28 million Americans would benefit if we raised the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour -- (applause) -- like Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed support.   And let me say this:  Minimum wage -- those aren't just teenage jobs that are impacted.  We're not just talking about young people.  My first job was at Baskin Robbins.  And I got paid the minimum wage and it was okay.  Wearing that hat and the apron was -- (laughter) -- yeah. 

But the truth is, the average worker who would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage is 35 years old -- 35.  A majority of low-wage workers are women.  A lot of them have kids.  Right now, somebody working full-time on the minimum wage makes $14,500 a year -- $14,500.  If they’re a parent, that means they’re below the poverty line.  Nobody who works full-time in America should be below the poverty line.  (Applause.)  They should not be raising their kids below the poverty line.  I am not going to give up this fight.  And we need Republicans in Congress to stop blocking a minimum wage increase and give America a raise.  (Applause.)   

And if a woman is doing the same work as a man, she deserves to get paid just like the man does.  (Applause.)  Even though it’s 2014, there are women still earning less than men for doing the same work.  And women of color face an even greater wage gap.  (Applause.)  And at a time when women are the primary breadwinners in more households than ever, that hurts the whole family if they’re not getting paid fairly.  Again, men, I just want you to pay attention.  When Michelle and I were starting off, there were stretches of time where Michelle was making more money than me, and I wanted to make sure she was making every dime that she deserved.  (Laughter.)  Right?  I don't know how I benefit by her getting paid less than a man.  Right?

AUDIENCE:  Right!

THE PRESIDENT:  Okay!  Men, I just want you to be clear.  (Laughter.) 

And it starts with recent college graduates.  Women often start their careers with lower pay, and then the gap grows over time -- especially if they get passed over for promotions and then they get fewer raises, or they take time off to care for family members.  So you get a situation where women are doing the same work as men, but the structure, the expectations somehow is, well, they’ll take time off for family, and once they take time off that means that it's okay to pay them a little bit less.  And that builds up over time.

And we've got to have a reversal of those kinds of policies and that kind of mindset.  We've got to catch up to the 21st century.  We need to pass a fair pay law, make our economy stronger.  It will be good for America, and it will be good for our families and good for our kids.  (Applause.) 

While we're on the topic, women deserve to make their own health care choices -- not politicians or insurance companies.  (Applause.)  And that’s why the Affordable Care Act is so important.  (Applause.)  Insurance plans -- because we passed the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans now have to cover the basics, including contraceptive care, and prenatal care, and maternity care.  (Applause.)   

That means a working mom doesn’t have to put off the care she needs just so she can pay her bills on time.  Tens of millions of women have new access to preventive care like mammograms with no co-pays, no out-of-pocket expenses.  (Applause.)  It means that a cash-strapped student doesn’t have to choose between the care that she needs and the cost of textbooks.  (Applause.)   

And because of the Affordable Care Act, because of Obamacare -- (applause) -- because of that law, no insurance company can deny you coverage based on a preexisting condition like breast cancer, or charge you more for the same care just because you’re a woman.  (Applause.)  That's the right thing to do. 

So no matter how many times Republicans threaten to repeal this law, we're going to keep it in place -- because it's working.  (Applause.)  Not only is it covering more people, not only is it protecting women and people with preexisting conditions from discrimination, but it's actually been part of the trend that's lowering health care inflation.  We're actually saving money because the system is getting smarter and there’s more preventive care instead of emergency care, and we're changing how health care is delivered.  (Applause.)  Which is why I’m pretty sure that in 10 years they're not going to call it Obamacare anymore.  (Laughter.)  Republicans will be like, oh, I was for that, yes.  (Laughter.)  That's how that works.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We’ll remember.

THE PRESIDENT:  You’ll remember though.  You’ll remind them.  (Applause.)

Now, to really make sure that women are full and equal participants in our economy, we can do some of this administratively.  But it requires not just changing laws; it requires changing attitudes.  And more and more companies are changing attitudes.  And this is really good news.

JetBlue, for example, has a flexible work-from-home plan for its customer service reps.  They’ve found it’s led to happier, more productive employees and lower costs.  Google increased paid leave for new parents -- moms and dads -- to five months -- five months -- and that helped cut the rate of women leaving the company by half.  And when I was having a conversation with some of the women business owners before I came out here, they were saying it’s really costly when you lose a good employee and you've got to train somebody all over again.  It’s much more sensible from a business perspective to invest in them and make them feel like you've got their backs, and they’ll stay with you. 

And it’s not just these big corporations that are embracing these policies.  So Cheryl Snead, who is the CEO of Banneker Industries -- where’s Cheryl?  She was here just a second.  There she is back there.  So Banneker Industries, a supply chain management firm, is based in North Smithfield.  And when Cheryl was in college, she studied mechanical engineering.  At the time, there weren’t that many African American women in mechanical engineering.  There still aren’t.  (Laughter.)  We're working to change that.

Cheryl wants to do something about that.  Her company has made it a priority to find talented young women and minority students, encourage them to study science and math in college, hire them once they graduate.  (Applause.)  And what Cheryl was explaining was that having a diverse workforce, having more women in the workforce, all that makes her a stronger company.   And it’s not just good for the workers -- it’s good for business.

So if large businesses like Google, small businesses like Cheryl’s all see the wisdom of this, let’s join them.  Let’s encourage more women and more girls into fields like science and technology and engineering and math.  And let’s work with those companies to ensure that family-friendly policies can support more women in that workforce.  (Applause.)

Ann-Marie Harrington -- where is Ann?  Ann-Marie is right here.  So Ann-Marie, she’s the president of a company called Embolden, based in Pawtucket.  And it provides web services to community foundations and non-profits.  A small business -- about 20 employees; 21 I think she said.  She just hired somebody, must have been.  (Laughter.)  But she lets them work from home and keep a flexible schedule when they need to.  And she says that’s increased her company’s productivity.  

So I’m taking a page from these companies’ playbooks.  This summer I directed the federal agencies in the executive branch to put flexible workplace policies in wherever possible; make it clear that all federal employees have the right to request them.  We want the best talent to serve our country, and that means making it a little bit easier for them to maintain that work-family balance. 

But these are issues that are too important to hinge on whether or not your boss is enlightened.  We have to raise our voices to demand that women get paid fairly.  We’ve got to raise our voices to make sure women can take time off to care for a loved one, and that moms and dads can spend time with a new baby.  We’ve got to raise our voices to make sure that our women maintain and keep their own health care choices.  We’ve got to raise our voices to basically do away with policies and politicians that belong in a “Mad Men” episode.  “Mad Men” is a good show, but that's not who we want making decisions about our workplaces these days.  When women succeed, America succeeds.  And we need leaders who understand that.  That’s what we need.  (Applause.) 

So if you care about these policies, you got to keep pushing for them.  This shouldn’t be partisan.  Republicans and Democrats should be supportive of all these issues.

I was talking to Tom Perez; he had just come back from Europe.  He was talking to chambers of commerce and conservative politicians.  They were all supportive of family leave, supportive of childcare, because they understood it actually made the economy more productive.  This isn’t a liberal or conservative agenda.

  When I talk to women, like the ones I spoke to earlier, when I hear folks’ stories from across the country, and when I think about my own mom and how she made it all work, or my grandmother, nobody is looking at these issues through partisan lenses.  We’re not Democrats first or Republicans first, we are Americans first.  And as Americans, it’s up to us to protect and restore the ideals that made this country great.  (Applause.)

And that is, that in this country, no matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from, whether you are male or you are female -- here in America, you can make it if you try.  That’s the promise of America.  That’s the future I’m going to fight for.  (Applause.)  I want you to fight there with me.

Thank you, everybody.  God bless you.

END
11:50 A.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady at a Grassroots Campaign Event with Democratic Candidate for Governor Dan Malloy -- New Haven, Connecticut

Wilbur High School
New Haven, Connecticut

3:54 P.M. EDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Yes!  (Applause.)  Thanks so much, everyone.  This is so exciting.  I am beyond thrilled -- hi, you guys.  (Applause.)  We’re going to get this done.
 
I am beyond thrilled to be here to support our friend, your outstanding Governor, Dan Malloy.  (Applause.)  That’s why I’m here.  I’m here because of your Governor.  He’s done such an amazing job, and I want to start by thanking him for that wonderfully generous introduction.
 
But I also want to thank a few other of your outstanding Connecticut leaders who we have here today.  We’ve got Lieutenant Governor Wyman here, obviously.  We’re grateful for her service.  (Applause.)  We’ve got Senator Blumenthal, Senator Murphy here.  (Applause.)  We have Congresswoman DeLauro, who is here, your champion.  (Applause.)  And of course, your Mayor, Mayor Harp is here, as well.  (Applause.)  So I’m grateful to all of them for their leadership, for their service, for the work that they’re doing on behalf of this Governor.  We’re going to get this done.
 
But most of all, I want to thank all of you.  (Applause.)  Yes!  Just like your Governor said, it’s because of you that we’re here.  And like me, you all are fired up and ready to go.  There was an overflow crowd that I talked to, they are fired up and ready to go.  And like me, you all are here today for one simple reason:  You’re here because you know that this election isn’t about who is up here on this stage.  This is not about me.  It’s not about Barack.  It’s about you.  It’s about what is going on in your lives, what’s going on in your families, your communities.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  -- and I am a DREAMer!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  And we love you, babe.  (Laughter.)  We do.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Absolutely.  We have so many issues --
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  -- absolutely, honey.  (Applause.)  I hear you, babe.  I hear you, sweetie.  Okay, I’m going to wait and let you -- I will wait and let you finish.  I’m going to wait and let you finish, babe.  I hear every word you’re saying.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  I hear you, babe.  No, no, understand this -- these -- there is passion here.  But, see, what we have to do is turn this passion into work.  (Applause.)  Because what I know is that everyone has an issue that is near and dear to them.  I know that when you kiss your kids goodbye -- everyone here who has a child, when you send them off, you want to make sure you send them to good schools with good teachers who will push them, who will ensure they have the love and support they need to be on track to go to college, to get a good job, to achieve.  (Applause.)
 
You’re here because you don’t ever want to be scared walking around in your own neighborhood.  (Applause.)  You believe that no child should ever feel afraid walking into their classroom.  (Applause.)  There are many issues of passion here.  That’s why elections are important.
 
You’re here because you believe that when you’re working your heart out, putting in 40 or 50 hours a week at your job, you should be able to pay your bills, you should be able to put some money away.  (Applause.)
 
See, I know this because this was my father.  He was a working-class guy.  He was able to raise a family, send us to college on his salary.  That is the American Dream we’re talking about.  (Applause.)  That’s why we’re here.
 
You’re here because you know that things are starting to get better because of your President -- (applause) -- because of leaders like Governor Malloy.  (Applause.)  But let me just share some of the numbers with you.  Our businesses have created more than 10 million new jobs since 2010.  This is the longest uninterrupted run of private sector job growth in our nation’s history.  (Applause.)  The national unemployment rate has dropped from a peak of 10 percent back in 2009 to 5.9 percent today.  (Applause.)
 
And I know you’re here because you want this state to keep heading in the right direction.  But most of all, you’re here because you know that this election will determine what happens on every single one of these issues.  You guys are lively here.  New Haven, you guys are all fired up.  (Applause.)  You guys want this to be a participatory rally, don’t you?  It’s like, who else should I have come on stage?  (Applause.)  Come on up here, make some points.
 
But remember this:  You cannot yell in the audience unless you’re going to vote.  You’ve got to vote.  (Applause.)  Every single issue that you care about -- whether it’s schools or jobs or DREAMers or neighborhoods -- so many of those decisions are made by your Governor.  Understand this.  This is local politics, and more of us have to understand how it works.  And that’s why you’re here for Dan Malloy.  (Applause.)  Because over the past four years, you have seen with your own eyes how this man has transformed this state.
 
While other governors were cutting education, your Governor invested in your schools.  And now, what’s going -- test scores are up.  Graduation rates are up.  That’s real work.  Dan Malloy helped create 60,000 jobs.  As he said, he passed paid sick leave, something that everyone -- especially our young people -- should understand.  (Applause.)
 
He raised the minimum wage, one of the most important things that will help working-class families get some stability.  He fought for equal pay for women.  (Applause.)  Come on, ladies.  (Applause.)  And then, he is a Governor that has shown such compassion.  After he sat with those grieving families in Newtown, Dan said, never again.  And Dan had the courage to stand up and pass common-sense gun reforms, and today, the crime rate here in Connecticut is at a 40-year low.  (Applause.)
 
So we can’t forget why we’re here today.  You know who Dan stands for.  You know who your Governor fights for.  He fights for you.  He fights for your families.  Dan Malloy is your Governor.  (Applause.)  And I want you -- just imagine, as he said, if he achieved so much in four years in tough times, just imagine what this man could do if you gave him another four years.  Just imagine.  (Applause.)
 
So now, I want to talk brass tactics.  Because this isn’t just about cheering and loving.  I’m happy to be here, I’m happy to feel the energy -- I’m even happy to hear the hecklers, because it shows that folks are revved up, they’ve got a focus.  This is important.  But there is work that must be done.  This just doesn’t happen because we feel good about it.  It happens because we work for it.
 
So between now and November the 4th, we need to do everything in our power to reelect Dan Malloy as Governor of this state.  We’ve got to do it.  (Applause.)  And this is not going to be easy -- just focus on this -- this will not be easy.  We know there is too much money in politics.  We know that special interests have way too much influence -- we know this.  But just remember, they had plenty of money and plenty of influence back in 2008 and 2012, and Barack Obama still won those elections.  (Applause.)  And you want to know why he won those elections?
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Because we showed up!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Exactly -- because we showed up and we voted.  That’s why.  Because at the end of the day, the folks running those special interest groups, the folks who poured millions of dollars into those elections, they each have just one vote -- and so do each of us.  And those votes are what decides elections in this country.
 
And make no mistake about it, every single one of these votes matters.  Because this election is going to be incredibly close -- and we know something about close.  And just -- I want you all to think back to Dan’s race in 2010, because the outcome of that election was decided by about 3,200 votes.  So just think, if 3,200 people had voted for his opponent instead, Dan would have lost.
 
And think even further -- because I like to break stuff down -- when you take that 3,200 and you break it down, that’s just four votes per precinct.  Take that in for a moment.  That is four votes per precinct.
 
So if there’s anybody here who is thinking that their vote doesn’t matter, if there’s anybody here who knows someone who thinks that voting just isn’t worth their time, if you know young people who are sitting on the couch, I want you to think about those four votes.  So we cannot afford to miss out on a single vote in this election -- not one.  This is real.  Think about your passions.  Think about the things you care about.  And think four votes.
 
So right now, here is what I need you to do right now -- I want you all to make a plan.  Because sometimes people don’t vote because they don’t have a plan.  So make your plan.  When are you going to vote?  Write down where you’re going to go, and commit to making it happen.  Do you need a ride?  You have to do it before work?  Do you need babysitting?  Are you going to take somebody with you that can’t get there on their own?  That’s what a plan is.  If you’re a young person, you got school, when are you going to make that happen?  You’ve got to make a plan, just like everything.  Stuff doesn’t just happen.
 
So everybody here has got to figure out how they’re going to make their voices heard on the 4th.  So now, between --
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Organize!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Organize!  (Applause.)  New Haven, you guys -- this is fun.  (Applause.)  I got a lot of help on this speech today.  So I know with all this enthusiasm, you guys are going to make this happen.  You guys are helping me out all through my speech.  (Applause.)
 
So between now and November 4th, I want you to spend every single minute you have doing the groundwork -- knocking on doors, finding your neighbors, making those phone calls for Dan Malloy.  You do it.  This is how it happens.  And then, on November 4th, get yourself, get everyone you know out to the polls.
 
And if you haven’t registered yet, that’s okay.  Young people who haven’t registered -- young people.  (Laughter.)  For those who may not have registered, you can register on November 4th and vote the very same day.  (Applause.)  That’s how easy it is.
 
So there really is no excuse.  Get buses and carloads of friends and congregation members and coworkers, and go vote together.  In fact, voting here couldn’t be easier -- all you have to do is show up.  So don’t be left out.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  November 4th, even the homeless can vote (inaudible.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Even the homeless can vote.  (Applause.)  I love New Haven!  I love it.  (Applause.)  So don’t be left out.  Your friends will be there, your neighbors will be there.  You will be joining millions of folks across the country who are making their voices heard on the issues they care about.  That’s how you make change.  All those folks are doing this because they know that elections matter.  They know what’s at stake on November the 4th.
 
You see, because if we stay home on Election Day, all we’re doing is letting other folks decide the outcomes of our lives for us.  (Applause.)  And if we do that, we know exactly what will happen.  We will see less support for our kids’ schools.  We’ll see more folks interfering in women’s private decisions about our bodies and our health care -- that you know.  (Applause.)  We will see more special breaks for those at the top instead of for hard-working folks.  (Applause.)
 
So, Connecticut, I want to be very clear:  if you believe that folks who are working full time shouldn’t have to live in poverty in the wealthiest nation on the planet; if you think that every community in this state should have good jobs, that we should have common-sense gun laws that keep our families safe; if you think that every child in Connecticut should have the education they need from preschool to college to fulfill every last bit of their God-given potential, then you need to get everyone you know to vote for Dan Malloy for Governor.  (Applause.)  You’ve got to do this.
 
Because in the end, that’s really what’s at stake in this election -- it’s the kind of world we want to leave for our kids and our grandkids.  And those kids are counting on us.  We see these young people here -- they’re counting on us to stand up for them.
 
And I know these kids, and you know these kids.  They’re here.  They’re all over the country.  And that’s why we have to stay focused.
 
I’ll tell you a story about one of those kids, Rashema Melson.  She’s one of my mentees in Washington.  Now, Rashema’s father was murdered when she was a baby, and then for years, her family was homeless.  And there were days when she didn’t even have clean clothes to wear to school.
 
But that didn’t stop Rashema.  She showed up every morning to school on time.  She threw herself into every class.  She often had to wake up in the middle of the night just to do her homework because that’s the only time it was quiet in the homeless shelter where she and her family lived.  But by senior year, Rashema had earned a 4.0 GPA.  (Applause.)  She graduated as valedictorian of her class.  And right now, today, Rashema is on full scholarship at Georgetown University.  (Applause.)
 
And as I travel across this country, I meet so many kids just like Rashema every day -- kids who are working two or three jobs to save up for college.  Kids whose parents don’t speak a word of English, and are fighting so hard to make it in this country.  Kids who are out there on their own, waking up early, staying up late, studying as hard as they can because they know that’s the only way to make it.
 
And what I think about, what the President thinks about every day -- these kids have every reason to give up, but they are so hungry, they are so desperate to lift themselves up.  And that is why we’re here today.  Don’t get it twisted, as they say.  That’s why we’re here today.  (Applause.)  As Barack and I tell ourselves every day -- because those kids never give up, then neither can we.  Neither can we.
 
So between now and November 4th, New Haven, we need to be energized for our kids.  We need to be inspired for them.  We need to pour everything we have into this election so they can have the opportunities they need to build the future they deserve.
 
So just understand, this is on us.  The kids who are desperate to make it in this country, the kids who are working every day to get out of high school, to go to college -- we are standing up to them, and for them.  So if we keep stepping up and bringing others along with us, then I am confident that we can keep making that change we believe in.  I know that we can reelect Dan Malloy as Governor.  And I know that, together, we can build a future worthy of all our children’s dreams.
 
Thank you all.  Get it done.  God bless.  (Applause.)
 
END  
4:15 P.M. EDT