Remarks by the President at DNC Event

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For Immediate Release April 25, 2013 Remarks by the President at DNC Event April 24, 2013Private ResidenceDallas, Texas   8:06 P.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you.  Thank you so much.  Well, let me begin by thanking Naomi and Larry for opening up this extraordinary home to all of us.  It is wonderful to see them again.  And they’ve been such longtime supporters.  They were there back in the day when many of you could not pronounce my name.  (Laughter.)  But they’ve just been great friends and are active on so many fronts.  Obviously, Larry is labor and Naomi is management -- (laughter) -- as is true in our household as well.  (Laughter.)  But we really appreciate them and their very impressive sons.   I also want to acknowledge Henry Munoz who’s here and is just doing an outstanding job as our finance chair of the DNC.  Where’s Henry?  There he is.  (Applause.)  Thank you, Henry.  And I understand that the former mayor of this great city, Ron Kirk, is still around.  So, everybody, give a big round of applause to Ron.  (Applause.)   Obviously this has been a tough couple of weeks for the country.  I have spent time in Boston and have been inspired by the incredible resilience of that city in the wake of such a horrific tragedy; had a chance to visit with some of the victims of the explosion and talk to the families of some of the folks who were lost.  And then tomorrow I'll be attending a memorial service for the tragedy that took place in West, Texas, and have a chance to visit with some of those families.   And there’s no words that are satisfactory when you’re confronting these kinds of losses.  And families cope, they do their best, but obviously their lives are transformed by this.  And so I don't want to pretend that somehow you can put a positive gloss on those kinds of events.  On the other hand, what is remarkable is the strength and the courage and the fellowship that you see in people when they’re confronted with these kinds of challenges.  And in Boston, what you saw was not just the character of an extraordinary American city, but it was also the character of a nation. There is something about tough times that brings out the best in us, and all the petty differences and the divisions of race and class and religion and political persuasion all seem to fade away.  And I remember, as I was driving from the airport to the memorial service in Boston, I was with Deval Patrick -- outstanding Governor of Massachusetts and a great friend who handled the whole situation as well as anybody could -- and we agreed that wouldn't it be something if we could just somehow capture and sustain that spirit beyond tragedy. That's kind of a cliché.  We talk about this a lot. We talked about this after 9/11; we talk about it after a natural disaster like Sandy.  We're all struck by how we come to each other’s aid, and these huge waves of empathy come forward and people are willing to do anything for strangers because they understand there but for the grace of God go I.  And they also understand that there’s something fundamental that binds us together as Americans, and that we love this country, and this country is simply a collection of incredible people -- our fellow citizens. And that idea of citizenship, the idea that we don't just have obligations to ourselves -- we do; we have obligations obviously to our families and our immediate circles.  But we have also an obligation to something larger than ourselves; that our orbit of concern extends to a child somewhere in a border town in Texas who is struggling to get a decent education.  And it extends to a senior citizen somewhere in Maine that is trying to figure out how they can get enough heating oil to get through a winter and have enough to eat at the same time.  And it extends to the young immigrant who just came here and is trying to find their way in California.  And it applies to a single mom in New York who is going back and has gotten her education and is looking for some decent daycare.  That all of us have a stake in their success, and all of us have a stake in a country that expresses this incredible quality of compassion and concern and fellow feeling not just in our churches or our synagogues or our mosques or our temples, not just in our workplaces or our neighborhoods or our Little League, but also expresses itself through our government. And the reason I think all of you are here is because you believe that, too.  And the Democratic Party at its best tries to give expression to that.  The Democratic Party doesn’t always get it right and this is not a feeling that is unique to Democrats. I'm really looking forward to attending the Bush Library opening tomorrow, and one of the things I will insist upon is that whatever our political differences, President Bush loves this country and loves its people and shared that same concern and was concerned about all people in America, not just some, not just those who voted Republican.  I think that's true about him and I think that's true about most of us. But what’s also true is that policy matters.  How we express that best part of ourselves is a matter of significant debate and it’s a matter of votes, and it’s a matter of legislation and budgets, and how we're allocating resources and how we're prioritizing what we think is important.  And although I couldn't be prouder of the work that we've done over the last four years, we all know we've got a lot more work to do on that front.   Middle-class families all across America are struggling to get by.  And things have stabilized since the crisis in 2008, but for a lot of folks, they’re still just barely keeping their heads above water.  There are millions of kids across this country who are still poorly educated or malnourished, or don't have any place to go outside of school.  And for them, college is just a distant dream.  They can't even imagine the prospect of actually creating a life for themselves that's similar to what they see on television, or maybe just walking down the streets of Dallas.  It’s like looking through a pane of glass. We have made enormous strides when it comes to broadening equality in this country.  And I could not be prouder of the work that we've done under my administration to make sure that we have a strong civil rights division, that we ended "don't ask, don't tell," that we're championing the rights of the LGBT community, that we're making sure that women are getting paid the same as men for the work that they do.  But we all know that in all kinds of interactions, large and small, there are people out there who aren't getting a fair shot, still aren't getting a fair deal, still aren't being treated the way we would want ourselves to be treated.  And government has something to say about that.   We have enormous challenges like climate change that our easy to ignore in the short term, and yet I think most of us here want to make sure that the next generation is bequeathed the same incredible bounty, this amazing land of ours, that we inherited from our parents and our grandparents.   So we've got a lot of work to do.  And unfortunately, right now Washington is not -- how do I put this charitably?  (Laughter.)  It’s not as functional as it should be.  It could do better.  And when you think about the work that we've been able to do over the last four, four and a half years, some of it, happily, has been bipartisan.  There have been times where we've been able to tackle issues together.  And particularly when it comes to national security and keeping America safe, I think that there’s been some convergence among Democrats and Republicans that we have to act wisely overseas and we've got to make sure that we're supporting our troops when they come home, and we've got to take every step that we can to guard against terrorist acts, but we've also got to do so consistent with our Constitution and rule of law. But when it comes to domestic policy, when it comes to budgets, when it comes to action that is translating into real change for people day to day, the fact of the matter is, is that when Democrats were in charge of the House we were able to make sure that 30 million people get health care, and that people who have health care have the kinds of protections they need from insurance company abuse and are getting the kind of preventive care that's going to drive our health care costs down over the long term. The fact of the matter is, is that when Democrats were in charge we were able to rein in some of the excesses of Wall Street in a way that assures long-term stability in the financial system and makes it a lot less likely that we end up seeing the kinds of taxpayer bailouts that not only weren’t fair but aren't good for our economy.  The fact is, is that when Democrats were in charge, that's when we were able to make sure that we got "don't ask, don't tell" ended.  And so who’s setting the agenda and who’s running the show in Congress makes a difference. And I'm going to spend the next year and a half doing everything I can to try to bring the parties together around some basic, smart, common-sense agendas that in past years haven't even been particularly partisan -- making sure that we're balancing our budget -- or making sure that we're bringing down our deficits and managing our budgets in a way that doesn’t just load up the entire burden on seniors or students or the poor, but asks a little bit from everybody.   And making sure that we can still invest in things like early childhood education, and making sure that we're investing in research and science so that we can continue to maintain our cutting-edge internationally; rebuilding our infrastructure so that we continue to have the best infrastructure in the world. These are not things that, in the past at least, have been Democrat and Republican.  I come from the “land of Lincoln,” and it turns out that was the first Republican President’s agenda as well.  He wanted to build railroads and locks and dams, and he started the National Foundation for Science, and started land-grant colleges because he understood that we have a free market and the genius of America is unleashing the capacities of our people.  But he also understood that there’s a role for government to play to make sure that everybody is getting a fair shot; to make sure that there are ladders of opportunity; to make sure that everybody can realize their full potential. So these aren't Democratic ideas; these are American ideas. Unfortunately, they’ve gotten caught up in some partisan politics.  And we're going to do everything we can over the next year and a half to break through that.   So, occasionally, I may make some of you angry because I am going to reach out to Republicans.  I'm going to keep on doing it.  Even if some of you guys think I'm a sap, I will keep on doing it -- (laughter) -- because I think that's what the country needs.  But what I also believe in is that when Democrats have the opportunity to set the agenda, then we don't have a country where just a few are doing really, really well; we've got a country where potentially everybody has a chance to do well if they’re willing to work hard and if they’re willing to take responsibility. That's what we're fighting for.  That's why you're here.  And I hope that all of you recognize that despite the fact that I've got a lot of gray hair and I don't look exactly like I did the first time I came to Dallas as a potential Senate candidate, the same passion and the same values that motivated me then are the values that motivate me now; and that we win elections to give us the possibility of actually getting stuff done on behalf of the American people.  We don't win elections just to have a party on Inauguration Day, and we don't win elections just so we've got a title on our door, and we don't win elections just because it’s sport.  We win elections so that we have the possibility of delivering for the American people.  And delivering means sustained work after the election.   So I can't do that by myself.  I can only do it with you.  And as Larry helpfully reminded me, I understand that Texas is a so-called red state, but you’ve got 10 million Democrats here in Texas.  And beyond the fact that there are a whole lot of Democrats in Texas, there are a whole lot of people here in Texas who need us, and who need us to fight for them.  And I don't know about you, but I intend to fight for them as long as I have the honor of holding this office and probably a little bit after that as well.   Thank you very much, everybody.  (Applause.)  END8:23 P.M. CDT 

 

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Remarks by the President at Teacher of the Year Event

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

Rose Garden

2:10 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, hello, everybody.  Please have a seat.  I am thrilled to welcome our state and national teachers of the year to the White House this afternoon.

People who know me know I’ve just got a soft spot for teachers, partly -- my sister is a teacher, my mom was a teacher for a while.  And if there’s one thing we can’t say enough to our nation’s educators, it is "thank you."  So today, we’ve got a chance to do that -- to show our extraordinary appreciation for the difference that they make in the lives of our children and the lives of our nation.

Now, before we get started, I’ve got to recognize another outstanding educator, our Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan -- (applause) -- who is as passionate about the future of our kids as anybody that I know.  And I’d like to acknowledge and applaud the three outstanding principals of the year who are joining us -- because we know that unless we’ve got outstanding leadership in our schools, it’s very hard for even great teachers to do their job.  And so please give them a big round of applause as well.  (Applause.)

Now, these educators behind me come from all over the country.  They represent cities and towns of every shape and size, all types of schools.  But the one thing that binds them together is that they are absolutely devoted to nurturing the next generation.  They’re role models who show our kids how to work hard to reach their potential.  They encourage our children’s passion.  They inspire our children’s imaginations.

And this year’s national teacher of the year, Jeff Charbonneau, is from Zillah, Washington.  Did I say that right, Jeff?

MR. CHARBONNEAU:  Charbonneau, so yes.

THE PRESIDENT:  Charbonneau --

MR. CHARBONNEAU:  Charbonneau from Zillah.

THE PRESIDENT:  From Zillah.  (Laughter.)  That’s why he’s a good teacher.  (Laughter.)  As Jeff put it, a teacher’s “greatest accomplishments are revealed each time a student realizes that he or she has an unlimited potential.”  And I’ll bet any -- everybody here can remember a moment like that, when a teacher helped them find that spark that allowed them to get to where they are today; a teacher who saw something in us that maybe at the time we didn’t see in ourselves.

Twelve years ago, when Jeff decided to return to his hometown to teach, Zillah High School had no engineering curriculum.  The science curriculum was lagging.  Kids had to go off campus for technology classes, and the computer resources were, frankly, pretty poor.

But Jeff was determined to turn that around.  He wanted to convince kids that something like quantum mechanics wasn’t something to run away from, but something to dive into.  And he said, “It's my job to convince them that they are smart enough, that they can do anything.”

And now, with Jeff’s leadership at his high school, science enrollment is way up.  Kids are graduating at college-level science -- with college-level science credits.  The school expects to have to hire more teachers now to meet the demand. 

This kind of transformation is exactly why I’ve proposed preparing an additional 100,000 math and science teachers across the country over the next decade.  (Applause.)  And excellent teachers like Jeff could make up part of a Master Teachers Corps -- a network of outstanding educators who serve as leaders and mentors for their colleagues in these particular subject areas.

But it’s not just classroom teaching that distinguishes Jeff.  He reinvigorated the school’s yearbook.  He started an outdoors club.  He brought his passion to the drama program.  He’s even helping out other schools.  Because of Jeff, hundreds of thousands -- or hundreds of students all over the state are now participating in high-skills robotics competitions and gaining valuable engineering experience, all in the name of creating what Jeff calls “paradise.”  That’s what school is for him, that’s what he wants it to be for his students -- in their classrooms, but also in their activities and the greater community.

And basically, there’s nothing that Jeff will not try to give his students the best education in every respect.  And, by the way, I think it's important for us to acknowledge Jeff's wife and children and mom and dad and brother -- all presumably have to put up with him constantly doing all this stuff.  (Laughter.)  And we appreciate them for the great support that they've given him.  (Applause.) 

What's true for Jeff is true for every educator standing behind me.  They understand that their job is more than teaching subjects like reading or chemistry.  They’re not just filling blackboards with numbers and diagrams.  In classrooms across America, they’re teaching things like character and compassion and resilience and imagination.  They’re filling young minds with virtues and values, and teaching our kids how to cooperate and overcome obstacles.  So today, we honor the dedicated professionals that help guide that critical development. 

Any parent knows it’s hard to drop your son off or your daughter off at school that first time.  In the instant the car door slams or the school bus door shuts, there is a little flutter that goes on.  I like quoting somebody who said that being a parent is like having your heart outside your body wandering around.  (Laughter.)  But these teachers, they're the ones that we trust with our kids.  They're people who love our kids. 

A few months ago, we saw the true depths of a teacher’s commitment when six educators were killed trying to protect the children they embraced as their own.  There was the teacher who locked her first-grade students in a bathroom and whispered, “I love you," because, in her words, “I wanted that to be the last thing they heard, and not gunfire.”  The special-education teacher who was found cradling a student in her arms, trying to protect him from the evil that ultimately took them both. 

In those moments, those brave teachers showed the world what they do is more than just educate kids.  They embrace them and they nurture them and they love them.  And we know that the men and women behind me do the same.  

These folks did not go into teaching for money.  (Laughter.)  They certainly didn’t go into it because of the light hours and the easy work.  They walk into the classroom every single day because they love doing what they do, because they're passionate about helping our children realize the best versions of themselves so that our country can become the best version of itself.

And I just want to say to all of them, I hope that in some small measure this award keeps them going.  Because I never want our teachers to feel discouraged at a time of budget cuts, at a time when all too often problems in the schools are laid at the feet of teachers; where we expect them to do so much, and sometimes they get so little in return. 

I want you guys to know that the country appreciates you.  The kids appreciate you.  The parents appreciate you.  What you do matters.  It's critical to our success as a country, but most importantly, it's critical to those kids themselves.  I cannot think of something more important than reaching that child who maybe came in uninspired, and suddenly, you've inspired them. 

And, by the way, I want to mention -- I often talk about STEM and math and science -- I really do think it's critically important.  We've fallen behind on a lot of those subjects.  But I don't want to neglect our English teachers and our arts teachers, our music teachers, our history teachers, our social science teachers -- (applause) -- because, yes, we want folks inventing things and we need more engineers and scientists and probably fewer lawyers.  I can say that as a lawyer.  (Laughter.)  But part of what you're also teaching young people is qualities like compassion, and being able to put yourself in somebody else's shoes.  And that's what makes our society worth living in as well. 

So the bottom line is, thank you.  And the least that the rest of us can do is to give all of these folks the respect that they’ve earned, the gratitude we owe them.  Teaching is a profession and it should be treated like one.  And that means we're going to have to recruit and prepare and reward our next generation of great educators more effectively.  Secretary Duncan has been working with folks around the country on a new blueprint for teaching in the 21st century, listening to some of these outstanding teachers and educators and principals so that we can figure out what best practices are out there. 

Educators like Jeff and everyone up here today, they represent the very best of America -- committed professionals who give themselves fully to the growth and development of our kids.  And with them at the front of the classroom and leading our schools, I am absolutely confident that our children are going to be prepared to meet the tests of our time and the tests of the future. 

So we're grateful to all of you.  Thanks for helping our kids dream big, hope deeply and realize a brighter future.  So with that, I would now like to present Jeff with his apple.  And I want to -- but don't bite into it -- (laughter) -- and invite him to say a few words.  Give Jeff a big round of applause.  (Applause.) 

END
2:20 P.M. EDT

President Obama honored Jeff Charbonneau, a science, physics and engineering teacher at Zillah High School in Washington, as the 2013 National Teacher of the Year.

National Park Week celebrates and gives back to our country’s great natural and cultural landscapes.

100 students from more than 40 states were at the White House for an all-day, hands-on celebration of the power and potential of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.

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Remarks by the President at a DNC Event -- Atherton, CA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

Private Residence
Atherton, California

10:28 A.M. PDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Well, it is wonderful to see all of you.  This is an intimate group.  What I want to do is mostly have a conversation.  But, first of all, obviously I want to thank Liz and Mark for their incredible hospitality.  We couldn’t be more appreciative.  And I want to thank all of you for being here today.

A lot of you -- in fact, almost everybody here I’ve known, have supported me.  Some of you were involved in my first campaign when nobody could pronounce my name.  (Laughter.)  And you stuck with me through thick and thin, and I just want to say how much I appreciate all of you for taking the time.

Some people have been asking me -- well, what’s different about the second term?  And I say, well, for one thing, I’m not raising money for myself, and that’s good.  (Laughter.)  For another thing, the girls are getting old enough now where they don’t want to spend time with us on the weekends.  (Laughter.)  They have sleepovers and parties and sports, and all that stuff.  I don’t know if you guys are doing the same thing to your parents, but it’s starting to happen.

But I think the most important thing is that when you don’t have another race to run, all you’re really thinking about it is how do I leave a legacy, not simply for the next President, but for the next generation that makes America stronger; that helps assure our children can compete with an ever-changing world; that we are solving what I think is one of the core challenges we face as a generation, and that is making sure that we have a strong, growing middle class and ladders of opportunity for everybody who is willing to work to get into that middle class; that we continue to be innovative; that we address some of our core environmental challenges, particularly climate change, to make sure that the planet we leave behind is one that our children can thrive in.

So you end up taking the long view on things.  And you also feel a great urgency because you know you don’t have a lot of time.  And so the main message I want to deliver here today is that I could not be prouder of the track record that we’ve put together over the last four years and two months, whether it was saving an economy from a great depression; doubling fuel efficiency standards on cars; expanding access to college for the millions of young people; making sure that nobody in this country has to go bankrupt because they get sick; re-upping the law preventing violence against women; making sure that we have the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which I think has laid the groundwork for further progress when it comes to LGBT rights.

On so many issues, we’ve made progress.  But we’ve got so much more work to do.  And I laid out what that vision might look like during both the inauguration speech and in the State of the Union.  I want to make sure that we’ve got the best education system in the world and that starts young.  And so we’ve given all the research that we have.  Expanding our investment in childhood education can make all the difference in the world, and will pay enormous dividends for a very, very long time.

I want to make sure that we’re rebuilding this country, our infrastructure.  We’ve got $2 trillion in deferred maintenance.  We could be putting people back to work right now, and not only improving our current economic growth, but laying the foundation for economic growth for many years to come.  Many of you are aware that I am a big proponent of investments in science and research, and obviously, this entire region has thrived precisely because it has been the epicenter of innovation.  And that requires us putting money into research in biomedicine, in nanoscience.  Our recent initiative around the brain and being able to map that and crack the code potentially not only can help us cure things like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, but can generate entire new industries and put people back to work and be the next great challenge for the American economy.

And I believe that we’ve got to get a handle on our energy policy so that we are growing and we are productive, but we are not simply investing in the energy sources of the past; we’re also investing in the energy sources of the future.  We’ve doubled fuel efficiency standards on cars, but we’ve also had a chance to double our production in solar and wind and biofuels.  We can continue to make progress on that front.  We can continue to make sure that electric cars and other new technologies for transportation are built here in the United States of America and not someplace else. 

We can make sure that our buildings, our schools, our hospitals are more efficient.  If we were able to achieve the same efficiencies that Japan already has achieved using existing technologies, we'd cut our power utilization by 15, 20 percent -- which would have enormous ramifications in bringing down our carbon footprint.

And we can do all this without spending massive amounts of money.  The truth is, is that our fiscal situation has improved significantly since I first came into office, but we still have a long way to go.  The way for us to do it intelligently is the kind of balanced approach I've talked about in the past:  making sure that everybody is doing their fair share; making sure that those of us in this room and, frankly, in this whole town probably -- (laughter) -- recognizes the incredible blessings that we've been given and make sure that we're willing to invest back in the next generation, and also making sure that our money is wisely spent. 

We still waste money in all kinds of things that don't work, and we have the capacity to shift those dollars into things that do work and that will grow our economy.  And we can reduce our deficit, stabilize our debt, and do so without sacrificing the kinds of investments that are going to be required to grow.

Now, the last point I'll make is just politics.  Our policies, the ones that we prevented -- or the ones that we've presented, traditionally, would be considered pretty bipartisan.  There's nothing particularly Democratic about road building or basic science or environmental protection.  Teddy Roosevelt started the conservation movement.  Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican President, was pretty big on building infrastructure and investing in things like science and research. 

Unfortunately, we continue to still have some of that gridlock in Washington.  Part of it is fed by changes in information and communications that amplify conflict and extremes as opposed to trying to bring people together.  I know it's a great source of frustration for the American people.  I assure you it's a source of frustration for me as well.  (Laughter.)

But what I believed when I was running for this office back in 2007-2008, what I believed when I was running for a second term is what I still believe now -- and that is this country is not as divided as our politics would suggest.  And the only way we break through this gridlock is when people's voices are heard and people are engaged and involved.  I am very optimistic that we get immigration reform done in the next few months.  And the reason I'm optimistic is because people spoke out through the ballot box, and that's breaking gridlock. 

It's going to be tougher to get better gun legislation to reduce gun violence through the Senate and the House that so many of us I think want to see, particularly after the tragedy in Newtown.  But I still think it can get done if people are activated and involved. 

And so, on every front, on every issue that all of you care about, making sure that we can provide good information to the American people, engage them, inform them; make sure that they are embracing a form of citizenship that goes beyond just voting, but involves understanding what's at stake and talking to their neighbors, talking to their coworkers, talking to their friends, writing to their members of Congress, getting organized, getting mobilized -- all that ends up being really the critical ingredient and the constant dynamic change and improvement that has characterized this country for so long.

And your involvement with the DNC helps us do that.  It will help us register voters.  It will help us make sure that they understand what's at stake in all of these issues.  It's hugely important.  It's not always glamorous.  It's not always sexy.  But it's really what ends up driving our ability to make policy and to deliver for the young people who are here today. 

So, again, I want to thank Liz and Mark for making this spectacular home available to us.  And I want to thank all of you for not only what you've done in the past on my behalf, but more importantly what you're continuing to do on behalf of this country as a whole. 

Thank you, so much.  I appreciate it.  (Applause.)

END
10:39 A.M. PDT

President Obama tell the American people about the budget he is sending to Congress, which makes the tough choices required to grow our economy and shrink our deficits

Here’s a quick glimpse at what happened this week on WhiteHouse.gov.

President Obama marks the end of the Easter season with a prayer breakfast at the White House.

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Remarks by the President at a DCCC Event -- San Francisco, CA

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For Immediate Release April 04, 2013 Remarks by the President at a DCCC Event -- San Francisco, CA Private ResidenceSan Francisco, California  6:53 P.M. PDT THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you.   Well, first of all, I want to thank Tom and Kat for opening up this spectacular home.  They were bragging about the view -- (laughter) -- but Secret Service wasn’t going to let me look at the view.  But I’m now in my second term, so I can -- (laughter) -- so I called an audible, and I went out there, and it is spectacular.  And they were all apologetic.  They said, well, you can’t see the bridge.  (Laughter.)  I said, it’s okay, I can see the Pacific Ocean; that’s pretty good.  (Laughter.)  So I was perfectly satisfied with the view, and I could not be more grateful and thankful to them for hosting us here tonight.  So give them a big round of applause.  (Applause.) I want to thank Brandi Carlile for singing the -- (applause) -- there she is.  Now, I just -- the reason I know Brandi is because the White House photographer, Pete Souza, was a fan of Brandi’s before the rest of the world knew Brandi, and followed her around everywhere.  He didn’t stalk her, he was just -- (laughter) -- he was a fan.  And so Pete Souza gets credit, before Jimmy Fallon or anybody else, for Brandi Carlile being discovered, at least by me.  (Laughter.)  But we’re so grateful for her participating here tonight. The main reason we’re here is actually not me.  The main reason we’re here is because we have got a fearless leader who happens to be your neighbor, who day in, day out is fighting the good fight on every single issue that matters in terms of making this a more equitable, more prosperous, more generous, more competitive nation.  And she has been an extraordinary friend of mine, but more importantly, she’s a friend to working families all across the country each and every day.  I could not be prouder of her, and I expect that she is going to be once again the Speaker of the House -- Nancy Pelosi.  Love Nancy.  (Applause.) And Nancy wouldn’t be -- I think would be the first to say that she could not do what she does if it weren’t for her extraordinary members.  Right now, her chief rebounder, assist person, handyman -- (laughter) -- the guy who is making this enormous effort work is Steve Israel.  So we want to thank Congressman Steve Israel.  (Applause.)  And we’ve got three other members here today.  Mike Honda -- where’s Mike?  There he is in the back.  (Applause.)  Jared Huffman.  Jared is right there.  (Applause.)  And Eric Swalwell.  There he is.  (Applause.)   All right, now, first of all, Tom used that analogy I think two days after I went two for twenty at -- (laughter) -- at the Easter Egg Roll, guarded by a number of 6-year-olds.  (Laughter.)  So clearly I have not been playing enough basketball for anybody to want to use that analogy.  But what I think is absolutely true is that the way I have always thought about politics, I know the way Nancy thinks about politics, is that we are a team.  And when I say “we,” I’m not simply referring to the people in Washington.   If you noticed, during my inauguration address and my State of the Union, I talked about citizenship; I talked about what it means to be a citizen.  And the notion of citizenship is not simply a matter of voting, it’s not simply a matter of writing a check to a candidate who you like.  The notion of citizenship is that all of us have obligations to this nation, to our fellow citizens, and to future generations, and that each and every day we are tested and asked to participate in ways large and small to push that boulder up the hill a little bit, and to make sure that when our time here has passed, we can say, America is stronger, it’s more prosperous, and opportunity is available to every single American. That’s not just my job, it’s not just Nancy’s job -- it’s your job, as well.  And the fact that all of you are here is an indicator that you take this notion of citizenship seriously.  And because you do, Nancy and I, and Steve and others, we’ve had an opportunity over these last four years and a couple of months to make some extraordinary changes in this country.  We were able to yank an economy that was on the verge of a depression out of depression.  And although we’re not all the way back, the economy has stabilized, our financial markets have stabilized, housing is beginning to come back, and families are starting to feel a little more hopeful about their prospects for the future. Because of you, because of our team, we have been able to assure that people who already have health insurance have better health insurance; that they’ve got preventive care, they’ve got contraceptive care; that insurance companies can’t drop them for no good reason; that young people can stay on their parent’s plan until they’re 26.  And by next year, we’ll know that 35 million people, most of whom work, are never again going to have to say to themselves that because of a preexisting condition or simply a lack of money, that they end up bankrupt or end up in an emergency room when they or their family members get sick.  That happened because of all of you.  (Applause.)   Because of you, we were able to make sure that serving your country didn't depend on who you loved, and as a consequence of some of those changes, we’re now starting to see a extraordinary transformation in our culture that assures that the LGBT community has full and equal citizenship in this country.  (Applause.)  That happened because of you.   Because of you, roads have been built that needed repair, and people were put back to work.  Because of you, research has happened that is looking to cure everything from Alzheimer’s to Parkinson’s to juvenile diabetes.  Because of you, we’re actually seeing genuine improvement in our schools, and states all across the country -- including very red states -- have embarked on a reform agenda that makes certain that our kids can compete in this new global economy. Because of you, millions of young people have health insurance -- they have health insurance but are also able to afford college, and couldn't afford it before.  And because of you, despite a very aggressive agenda on the other side to block action, we’ve been able to double fuel efficiency standards on cars.  We’ve been able to take mercury out of our air.  We have been able to reduce carbon emissions in this country and have made not only this a healthier place to live, but have also begun to address in a serious way one of the biggest challenges of our time, and that is the challenge of climate change.  That all happened because of you.  (Applause.)  But here is the thing:  We’ve got a lot more work to do.  That’s why I ran for a second term.  The plane is nice -- (laughter) -- but the truth is, is that being in the bubble drives me crazy.  So if I didn't think I was actually going to get something done, I wouldn’t have run.   Nancy has gorgeous grandchildren.  And if it weren’t for the fact that we have more work to do, I’m sure that she wouldn’t be going after the speakership again.  The reason we do so, and the reason you’re here, is because we know we can do so much more to make this country what it can be. Now, over the next couple of months, we’ve got a couple of issues:  gun control.  (Applause.)  I just came from Denver, where the issue of gun violence is something that has haunted families for way too long, and it is possible for us to create common-sense gun safety measures that respect the traditions of gun ownership in this country and hunters and sportsmen, but also make sure that we don’t have another 20 children in a classroom gunned down by a semiautomatic weapon -- by a fully automatic weapon in that case, sadly.   Immigration reform is something that I believe that we can get done over the next couple of months.  It’s interesting how clarifying to the mind Democrats getting 70 percent of the Latino vote was in suggesting that maybe we needed to get -- finally fix a broken immigration system, and making sure that we’re both a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.   But even if we’re able to get those two things done -- and I’m hopeful that we do over the next couple of months -- we’re going to have some big challenges.  We still have to rebuild this country.  We’ve got about $2 trillion worth of deferred maintenance.  We could be putting back to work Americans all across this country not just rebuilding roads and bridges, but building state-of-the-art schools and a smart grid that would make sure that we’re wasting less energy, and link cities that are using energy with wind farms in the Dakotas and in the plains of Colorado.   We’ve got still more work to do to make college more affordable.  We’re going to have a lot more work to do to make sure that hard work pays off, which is why passing a minimum wage increase is so important -- because there are a lot of families out there, even who have jobs, who are having a tough time each and every day. And something that I know is near and dear to Tom and Kat’s hearts, and to Nancy’s -- we’ve got more work to do in terms of dealing with climate change and making sure that we’ve got an economy that is energy-efficient, that is productive, that is cutting-edge, and thinks about not just the energy sources of the past, but also the energy promise of the future.   And the thing that I’m going to have to try to work to persuade the American people a little more convincingly on is this notion that there’s a contradiction between our economy and our environment is just a false choice -- that if we invest now, we will create jobs, we will create entire new industries; other countries will be looking to catch up, they will be looking to import what we do.  We will set the standard, and everybody else will have to adapt.   But -- and I mentioned this to Tom and Kat and a few folks right before I came out here -- the politics of this are tough. Because if you haven’t seen a raise in a decade; if your house is still $25,000, $30,000 underwater; if you’re just happy that you’ve still got that factor job that is powered by cheap energy; if every time you go to fill up your old car because you can’t afford to buy a new one, and you certainly can’t afford to buy a Prius, you’re spending 40 bucks that you don’t have, which means that you may not be able to save for retirement -- you may be concerned about the temperature of the planet, but it’s probably not rising to your number-one concern.  And if people think, well, that’s shortsighted, that’s what happens when you’re struggling to get by.  You’re thinking about what’s right in front of you, which is how do I fill up my gas tank and how do I feed my family. And so part of what we’re going to have to do is to marry a genuine, passionate concern about middle-class families and everybody who is trying to get into the middle class to show them that we’re working just as hard for them as we are for our environmental agenda, and that we can bridge these things in a way that advances the causes of both.  And that’s going to take some work.  But the most important thing that it’s going to take is people in Washington who are willing to speak truth to power, are willing to take some risks politically, are willing to get a little bit out ahead of the curve -- not two miles ahead of the curve, but just a little bit ahead of it.  And that’s why your presence here is so important.   Look, my intention here is to try to get as much done with the Republican Party over the next two years as I can, because we can’t have perpetual campaigns.  And so I mean what I say.  I am looking to find areas of common ground with Republicans every single day.  I want to make sure that we’re working together to stabilize our finances.  And I think actually that we can come up with a fiscal deal that instead of lurching from crisis to crisis every three months, we lay the groundwork for long-term growth -- controlling our deficits, controlling our debt, but also making sure we can invest in our future.  I want to get an immigration deal done.  I want to find some common-sense gun safety legislation that we can get done.  And I do believe that there are well-meaning Republicans out there who care about their kids just as passionately as we do.   Despite all the rhetoric on television, I actually believe that Americans have a lot more in common than our political rhetoric would give us credit for.  But having said all that, I know Nancy Pelosi.  I’ve seen her courage.  I know that she is willing to do the right thing, even when it’s not politically popular.  And I want her once again as a fully empowered partner for us to be able to move our agenda forward.   And so I’m going to expect that you guys are fighting for issues, helping to move public opinion; engaging in organizing and engaging in advocacy and public policy work -- all the stuff that -- and I’m looking around this room, it’s full of do-gooders here -- all the stuff you do.  But I also want to make sure that you are paying attention to what can we do to support the prospect of Nancy Pelosi being Speaker once again.   If we do that, then I’m confident that not only can we deliver on this profound issue of climate change, not only can we make sure that clean energy is the norm here in America, but I also think that we can give America that sense of confidence and forward movement that’s always been our hallmark that characterizes who we are.  To do that, I’m going to need you and Nancy is going to need you.  And so I hope that this is not the end of your involvement.  I hope it is the beginning.  If, in fact, all the energy that’s represented in this room is fully deployed, then I feel pretty good about Malia and Sasha, I feel pretty good about these young people right here.  They’re smarter than we are.  If we hand off the kind of America that we should be handing off to them, I promise you they will take it to ever greater heights.   All right, thank you very much, everybody.  God bless you.  God bless America.  (Applause.)  END7:12 P.M. PDT

Blog posts on this issue April 06, 2013 5:30 AM EDTWeekly Address: The President’s Plan to Create Jobs and Cut the Deficit

President Obama tell the American people about the budget he is sending to Congress, which makes the tough choices required to grow our economy and shrink our deficits

April 05, 2013 4:42 PM EDTWeekly Wrap Up: “We Have Not Forgotten”

Here’s a quick glimpse at what happened this week on WhiteHouse.gov.

April 05, 2013 4:00 PM EDTPresident Obama Marks the End of Easter Season at Prayer Breakfast

President Obama marks the end of the Easter season with a prayer breakfast at the White House.

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Remarks by the First Lady at Champions of Change Women's Veterans Event

The White House

Office of the First Lady

Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Washington, D.C.

11:39 A.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Hello!  (Applause.)  Good afternoon -- morning.  It's still morning.  How is everyone?  You all, rest yourselves.  (Laughter.)  I hear we've been keeping you pretty busy, right? 

Well, I'm really thrilled to be here.  I am just delighted to have the opportunity to stop by and say hello, and to add my thanks to the many thanks.  But I want to start by thanking Secretary Shinseki, not just for his kind introduction but for his stalwart service to this country.  And also, when -- I hear Patty is here, too.  Patty -- there is Patty Shinseki, who has been with you.  I want to thank you for joining us today, and for all that you've done as a partner, with Jill and I, through Joining Forces.  It's wonderful to see you, as well as everyone here from the Business and Professional Women's Foundation, for the exceptional work that they do every day for women's veterans.

And, of course, I want to recognize the 14 extraordinary women we're honoring as our Champions of Change.  I had an opportunity to take some quick photos and meet Joshua over there, who is -- (laughter) -- he's riveted by today's proceedings.  (Laughter.) 

And I want to thank every single woman in this room who has worn our country's uniform.  And I know there are a few men here, so I don’t want you to think I'm ignoring you, but this is really not about you today.  (Laughter.)  Not at all.  But you look -- you all look good.  You dressed up for your respective people.  You're not embarrassing anyone, which is good.  (Laughter.) 

But to our women veterans, you all are part of a long line of women who have broken barriers and defied expectations and served this country with unparalleled courage and determination.  You've been on the front lines, often in the line of fire.  And generation after generation, women like you have proven that you not only serve alongside men -- you lead them, as well.  Let's just take a moment.  (Laughter.)  Whether you're in combat or aboard a submarine or anywhere else service takes you, you're doing the job, and you're doing it with grace and poise and dignity. 

And the beautiful thing about our veterans -- and this is especially true for our women veterans -- is that long after you stop serving this country, you don’t stop serving it after you hang up your uniforms.  And that’s something that we say all the time about our veterans.  It's important for the nation to understand that you all keep working.  You make me tired -- (laughter) -- but you keep doing it. 

You are the leaders in our businesses and schools in our communities.  You're mothers raising your kids with that same sense of honor that defines your own lives every single day.  You're volunteers in your neighborhoods, on the PTA, your houses of worship, always finding ways to keep lifting folks up. 

And the 14 women we're celebrating today are truly the living embodiment of that spirit of service.  They're helping women veterans and military families start their own businesses.  They're fighting to promote gender equality in the military.  They're working to end homelessness and domestic violence and sexual assault. 

One of our honorees, Marsha Four, a former Army nurse in Vietnam, founded a transitional housing residence for homeless vets.  She started another program specifically for homeless women's veterans.  And she says she does it -- and these are her words -- she says, "When I die, I will know that I have spent some of my time here on Earth in a very important way; that I was part of something bigger than me."  Yes, we all nod to that. 

Being part of something bigger than ourselves -- that is the common thread that connects our 14 honorees, and, quite frankly, everyone in this room.  And Dr. Jill Biden and I have seen all of this occurring all across this country.  That is the thread that connects all our nation's veterans and our military families. 

And through Joining Forces, Jill and I, we are determined to match that extraordinary service with some extraordinary service of our own.  We're determined to ensure that all of our veterans and military families get the benefits, support and respect that they have earned and that they deserve. 

And this mission is particularly urgent today -- I spoke of this last week.  With the Iraq war now -- is over, and the war in Afghanistan drawing to a close, hundreds of thousands of veterans, particularly our women veterans, are going to be looking for work and are looking for work.  Right now, we have so many talented, highly skilled veterans who have so much to offer this country.  And they're going to need that opportunity to make that happen.  We need that service operating here at home.

And that’s why, last week, I went to the Business Roundtable to speak with CEOs from 80 of our nation's leading businesses -- companies like Walmart, and JPMorgan Chase, and UPS.  And at that meeting, I challenged them.  I challenged some of the biggest countries [companies] in this nation to hire and train even more of our veterans and military spouses in the coming years as the needs increase.

And this kind of challenge and call to action is really just one part of a much bigger effort by this administration to ensure that our veterans have access to the jobs they need and deserve when they return home.  For example, over the past few years, my husband has made tax credits available to any business hiring an unemployed veteran or wounded warrior.  We've also been working to help our troops translate their skills into civilian résumés and match them with careers that suit their experiences.

We've created an online jobs bank, and we're connecting companies across America to veterans in local communities through our American Job Centers that have been created.  And we're also working to streamline the credentialing processes so it's easier for military truck drivers and welders and machinists and medics to earn the certifications they need here at home so that they can get jobs and they're not bogged down in paperwork trying to make that happen.

And I have said this before, but this work couldn’t be more urgent.  With so many women hanging up their uniforms and looking for that next mission -- because that’s what you all are doing; you're just transitioning missions -- we know that right now is the time when you need us most.  And that’s what we've been talking to this nation about -- because everyone is grateful.  We live in a grateful nation.  People respect and value your service, but now is the time when we've got to step up on your behalf.

We know that right now, as this transitioning is happening for so many veterans, this is the time when they're feeling whether or not this country is truly there for them right at that transition point.  Now is the time.

So I just want you all to know that I'm not going to stop working, Jill is not going to stop working, my husband and the Vice President, we are not going to stop working until all of our veterans and all of their families feel the support of our entire country.  And we've got work to do.  (Applause.) 

Because here is the thing about our veterans -- every time this country has issued a call, our veterans and our women veterans in uniform have answered it.  And -- absolutely.  (Applause.)  And as the 14 women we honor today remind us, they continue to answer that call as veterans every single day in our communities.  And it is my hope that as Americans, the rest of us will step up to meet that example -- to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, and to serve all of you as well as you've served us. 

But here's the good news -- through Joining Forces, there has never been a "no."  There isn't a request that we have made, a challenge that we've issued that this country, from every sector -- private, non-profit, businesses, our houses of worship -- people are ready and willing to answer the call for you.  And I think that’s so important for you to know, because there are times that you don’t feel the gratefulness of this nation, but it is there.  It is truly there. 

There is more work to do.  There are more challenges to meet.  But as you go through the process and you come across young veterans transitioning, it's important for them to know that they're not alone.  We're going to get it right, and we're going to keep working hard.  And we are so grateful, and so proud.

This is one of the best things I do every single day, is work with our servicemembers, our veterans and their tremendous families.  Because none of you, I know, could do what you do without somebody having your back.  And that’s usually a spouse, or a son, or a daughter, or someone else who has sacrificed tremendously so that you could serve.  And I know a little bit about that.  (Laughter and applause.)

So thank you to our Champions of Change.  As I told them, just don’t get tired.  We still need you.  And to all of our veterans, not just in this room but all across this country, we are proud of you.  We are grateful.  And we're going to keep working.  Just keep working for our nation, because we still need you.

Thank you for being here.  God bless.  Take care.

END
11:50 A.M. EDT

The first stop on President Obama's trip to the Middle East marks the first time the President has visited Israel since taking office, and comes as its citizens celebrate the 65th anniversary of a free and independent State of Israel.

On the third anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius lays out some of the ways in which the health reform has lowered costs.

We will be posting regular updates from the road and livestreaming several of the President's events on whitehouse.gov/live

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Remarks by the First Lady at Fisher House Family Easter Event

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Easter Egg Roll

Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You: April 1, 2013

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For Immediate Release March 20, 2013 Remarks by the First Lady at Fisher House Family Easter Event Maryland Fisher House IV
Bethesda, Maryland

1:25 P.M. EDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you, Crystal.  It's so good to be back.  It's good to see you guys.  Are you having fun?
 
CHILDREN:  Yes.
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Are you ready for a little more fun?  I'm coming to engage in the fun with you.  Are you ready?  Are you ready to show me how to make some stuff?
 
This is my second time here at Fisher House right around the Easter holidays, but it's not my second time, period.  I mean, the Fisher Houses, as you all know, are just so important to families who are recuperating.  They're doing some great stuff.  As you can see, the houses are beautiful.  And all around the country, they are as beautiful and as welcoming and as comforting as you guys are experiencing here.
 
That’s one of the reasons why we are so supportive of all the efforts that the Fisher Houses do.  And we're grateful to the Fisher family -- Crystal, who is here on behalf of her family -- because it wouldn’t happen without them.  So I like to come and hang out, number one, to bring cookies.  Anybody like cookies here?  I'm not sure if we haven't any cookie fans.  (Laughter.)  Just checking.
 
And one other thing I come bearing.  We do this really cool thing at the White House around Easter every year.  It's called our Easter Egg Roll.  Have you guys heard of the Easter Egg Roll?  We do it in the backyard of the White House on the South Lawn, and there are thousands of people who come.  And we've got great entertainment, bands playing.  We've got athletes who come, we've got Easter bunnies, and characters, and face painting, and bands playing, and lots of running right on the South Lawn.  Does that sound fun?
 
CHILDREN:  Yes.
 
MRS. OBAMA:  I brought tickets for all of you to come.  So that’s the other thing I bring.  (Applause.)  So the Monday after Easter, you guys are invited to my house to hang out, okay? 
 
I have one last surprise for you guys.  I brought a friend.  Bo! 
 
(Bo walks into the room.)
 
I brought Bo.  Bo came to see you guys.  Okay, so first I'm going to check out -- I'm going to come around to the tables.  If you don’t like dogs, just let me know. 
 
Bo is a sweetheart, but he's big; he's bigger than some kids realize.  (Laughter.)  So it takes a little second, but that’s all he is, is big.  He's really a big baby.  He's a big baby.  He can do tricks if he's paying attention -- no, no, he's staying down.  (Laughter.)  He can do some tricks, trust me.
 
But if you guys want to see Bo, I'll bring him around.  If you don’t want to see Bo, just let me know.  I understand.  And his teeth, he uses them to eat, but that’s about it.  (Laughter.)  All right? 
 
So I'm going to start over here, and then I'll make my way around to everybody, okay?  Bo, come on. 

END               
1:29 P.M. EDT

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