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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Weekly Address The White House December 25, 2015
THE PRESIDENT: Merry Christmas, everybody! This is one
of our favorite times of the year in the Obama household, filled with
family and friends, warmth and good cheer. That’s even true when I spend
all night chasing Bo and Sunny away from the cookies we leave for
Santa.
It’s also my favorite weekly address of the year, because I’m joined by a special holiday guest star: Mrs. Obama.
THE FIRST LADY: Merry Christmas, everyone. Here at the White House, we’ve spent the past month helping everyone get into the holiday spirit.
Our theme this year is “A Timeless Tradition,” and the decorations in
each room reflect some of our country’s most cherished pastimes – from
saluting our troops and their families to helping children dream big
dreams for their future.
And we’ve invited thousands of families here to the White House to
enjoy the festivities – because there’s no holiday tradition more
timeless than opening our doors to others.
THE PRESIDENT: Today, like millions of Americans and
Christians around the world, our family celebrates the birth of Jesus
and the values He lived in his own life. Treating one another with love
and compassion. Caring for those on society’s margins: the sick and the
hungry, the poor and the persecuted, the stranger in need of shelter –
or simply an act of kindness.
That’s the spirit that binds us together – not just as Christians, but
as Americans of all faiths. It’s what the holidays are about: coming
together as one American family to celebrate our blessings and the
values we hold dear.
During this season, we also honor all who defend those values in our
country’s uniform. Every day, the brave men and women of our military
serve to keep us safe – and so do their families.
THE FIRST LADY: So as we sing carols and open presents, as we win snowball fights...
THE PRESIDENT: Or lose snowball fights...
THE FIRST LADY: Let’s also take time to pay tribute to
those who have given our country so much. Go to JoiningForces.gov to
see how you can serve the troops, veterans, and military families in
your community.
And together, we can show them just how grateful we are for their
sacrifice. That’s a tradition we all can embrace – today and every day.
THE PRESIDENT: So on behalf of Malia, Sasha, Bo,
Sunny, and everyone here at the White House – Merry Christmas. May God
bless our troops and their families. And may God bless you all with
peace and joy in the year ahead.
MRS. OBAMA:Wow, it’s good to see you guys.You guys are looking really
nice.You going to be able to stay this clean for your parents, you
think?(Laughter.)We’ve got some things for you to get messy with in a
second, okay?I know, it’s very exciting.(Laughter.)You guys look good,
too.(Laughter.)
Welcome to the White House.It’s our favorite time of year, and we’re
just very excited to have you all here.You talk amongst yourselves.You
and Susan, you just do whatever you want.You’re good.(Laughter.)
But I want to start by thanking Susan for that very warm and sincere,
authentic introduction.It was really moving to me to hear your story,
your path to being here this year.And I want to just thank you for
spending the last few days helping to make this house look so
beautiful.I think you guys outdid yourself this year.Each year -- yes,
yes, it gets better and better every year.But more importantly, I want
to thank you for your service and sacrifice as a Gold Star sister, and
I’m so glad you got to decorate the Gold Star tree.I’m glad you had that
experience.
But most of all, I want to thank all of you as well for being here.We
have with us troops, veterans, wounded warriors from across our military
here today to help us kick things off.We’ve got some tremendous
military spouses here -- yay for our spouses -- (applause) -- including
some of the spouses of our Combatant Commanders and Service Chiefs who
are here today.It’s good to see you.I’ll see you guys
tonight.(Applause.)And of course, we have some really fabulous,
good-looking military kids here with us today.Give yourselves a round of
applause.(Applause.)I like the hair.(Laughter.)Yes, you.(Laughter.)
But I have to tell you that your presence here today is a powerful
reminder for all of us what this season is really all about.So often, we
get caught up in the holiday rush –- all the plans for the menu, the
logistics traveling to families, the shopping for people, the making
your list, checking it twice.Sometimes we get caught up in all of that,
but ultimately, that’s not what this season is about.It’s really about
serving others. It’s about giving more than we receive.And it’s about
showing those we love how much they mean to us.
And that’s one of the reasons why, here at the White House, the
holidays are a chance for us to show what our country is grateful for
this holiday season, and that’s all of you, the military families who
serve our nation proudly and give us all so much.Because we know that
too often, your stories of courage and strength often get lost in the
shuffle.And there are a lot of people who don’t realize what you all go
through.
They don’t know that military spouses often have to pick up and move
their families again and again and again, often at the expense of their
own careers.Many people don’t know that you all are parents and
grandparents and siblings, like Susan, who have lost those you love most
in the world.And of course, they don’t know about you kids and all that
you have to go through.They don’t know that oftentimes military kids
have to start at a new school every couple of years, which means a tough
transition for some of them, although they do it so bravely.And they’re
so smart, but they have to adjust to new classes and new friends and
new teammates, and that’s not always easy, right?But you guys get it
done, but a lot of people don’t know that.
But no matter what you all are going through -- this is the thing that
really keeps me going -- is that you guys always, always step up.So many
of you are the ones who are doing all the volunteering, more so than
many average Americans.You’re the ones who are cooking the meals for
your neighbors and taking over the carpool.You guys are the ones who are
organizing food drives and sending care packages.You guys are the ones
who are volunteering everywhere -- in your congregations, school
fundraisers, stepping up whenever your families and friends need you.
And as First Lady, one of my most important missions is to make sure
that you feel this country’s gratitude for everything that you do.And
that’s one of the reasons why Jill Biden and I, we’ve worked so hard
through our Joining Forces initiative, because we want to make sure that
you guys are honored and supported every single day.And that’s why,
once again, we are celebrating our military families with our holiday
decorations here at the White House.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed that, again, in the East Room [Landing],
as Susan mentioned, we’ve got a tree adorned with ceramic star
ornaments trimmed in gold and signed by Gold Star family members to
honor their loved ones.That’s how you kick off your experience here at
the White House -- that the first tree you see.And then once again,
we’re giving folks a chance to pledge to serve their community here at
the White House in honor of our veterans or military families, because
we want to make sure that we’re not just honoring these families during
the holidays, but we’re honoring you every single day of the year.And we
get a wonderful response every year to those commitments, those
pledges.
And then this year, our official White House tree, the big huge tree --
have you guys seen the biggest, hugest tree?Have you seen it?I think
this is the biggest tree we’ve had.And this tree is in honor of our men
and women in uniform.It is beautiful.We’ve got a tree that was so big
that we had to take the hinges off of the front door and take the doors
off -- literally -- just to get this tree in.Can you imagine
that?(Laughter.)It’s huge.It’s the biggest tree ever.But it’s beautiful,
because it has patriotic ornaments and ribbons that read “America the
Brave,” as well as some wonderful cards created by children across the
country to thank all of you for your service to our country.It’s
beautiful.
And in addition to these really wonderful tributes to our military
families, we have some of a -- a few of the special touches to really
build upon our holiday theme this year, which is “A Children’s Winter
Wonderland.”I wish you could see their faces.(Laughter.)They’re giving
me a lot of personality here.
But this year, we’ve got some new twists.We’ve got a lot of fun, new
technologies; we’re playing with technology this year.For instance, in
the Booksellers, where you saw the Bo animals -- did you see Bo and
Sunny?Did you notice that there’s a beautiful interactive snowscape
projection on the East Wall?I haven’t seen it yet.Did you see it?And you
can wave your hands around and it can -- it looks like you’re playing
in the snow.You haven’t seen it.Well, I haven’t seen it either, so we’ll
make sure to get that covered.(Laughter.)
Have you seen the animated versions of Bo and Sunny?I haven’t seen
those yet either.Sunny’s eyes move with a motion sensor.I hope it’s
working.(Laughter.)But it should be fun.And then we’ve got a selection
of the winners of our 3D-printed ornament challenge that are displayed
throughout the house, so that’s something you all can try to find, where
those ornaments are.
And, as always, we have all of the wonderful things that make the
holiday season at the White House so unique and special -- guess how
many trees we have here scattered all throughout the White House?
CHILD:Five?
MRS. OBAMA:Twenty-six.I know.(Laughter.)It’s a lot of trees.We just
have one, two, three -- five here in this room.(Laughter.)So there are
26 trees all throughout the rooms and the hallways.We have a 420-pound
gingerbread house -- you guys are going to see that if you haven’t,
we’re going to go over there soon -- in the State Dining Room.And of
course, just sniffing -- there’s the amazing smell of pine that just
wafts through the house.That’s the best part, really.That really tells
you it’s Christmas.And we can smell it all the way upstairs, it’s really
beautiful.
So I want to thank all 106 volunteers, like Susan, who traveled from
all across the country to help decorate.We couldn’t do this without
them.They come in Thanksgiving weekend, they give up time with their
families.They come when the tree comes on Friday and they spend the next
day in the warehouse picking out ornaments.They come here and they’re
in every room, and they’re proud of what they do.They’re a little
possessive at times, I understand.(Laughter.)And they also help decorate
the Christmas trees that are in our residence as well.
So we are so grateful.We’re grateful for their enthusiasm, for their
creativity.They have -- as you will see, they have done an outstanding
job.The house is just breathtaking.And we’re so proud and grateful.
And because of their hard work, we’re now ready to open the White House
for the holiday season to the 65,000 people who will come through this
house over the next month -- 65,000 people are going to walk in these
rooms where you are, and they’re going to get to see all these
ornaments.And these visits are going to become beautiful, lifelong
memories for everyone who gets to come by.
So again, we’re grateful to the volunteers.We are especially grateful
to all of our servicemembers, our veterans, their families.We’re truly
grateful.We hope you take time to enjoy your time here at the White
House, and see and touch and smell everything you can, and come back for
more if you haven’t seen enough.
But now, we’ve got a little surprise for you guys.Are you guys ready to
get up and move?(Laughter.)You’re going to come with me, we’re going to
do some decorating.(Laughter.)We’ve got stuff -- I think we may have
some cookies or something.
CHILD:Yay!(Laughter.)
MRS. OBAMA:Yeah!Yes, ma’am, do you have a question?
CHILD:I need to -- have to make two because my brother is sick.So I’m making some (inaudible) extras.
MRS. OBAMA:Yeah.She may have to make two of whatever she’s making
because her brother is sick.Yeah, we’re going to -- you can make
eight.(Laughter.)Can make as many as you want!
So you guys are going to follow me.Are you guys ready?And I’m going to
take your kids.The parents -- where are the parents of these beautiful
children?Are you okay with them coming with me for a
moment?(Laughter.)You know, really, don’t get so nervous, because
there’s really nothing they can tear up.(Laughter.)There really isn’t,
so just don’t worry.As long as you don’t care if those pretty dresses
get a little icing on them.
They’re going to come with me, and maybe you’ll get to see Bo and
Sunny.Yeah!Anybody afraid of dogs, so I know ahead of time?Okay, well,
you just stay away from them, okay?(Laughter.)Anybody else who doesn’t
like dogs?They’re friendly dogs, but I understand dog phobia, okay?You
just -- I’ll make sure -- I’ll look for you.
Hello everyone, I’m Michelle Obama, and on this Mother’s
Day weekend, I want to take a moment to honor all the mothers out there
and wish you a Happy Mother’s Day.
I also want to speak to you about an issue of great
significance to me as a First Lady, and more importantly, as the mother
of two young daughters.
Like millions of people across the globe, my husband and I
are outraged and heartbroken over the kidnapping of more than 200
Nigerian girls from their school dormitory in the middle of the night.
This unconscionable act was committed by a terrorist group
determined to keep these girls from getting an education – grown men
attempting to snuff out the aspirations of young girls.
And I want you to know that Barack has directed our
government to do everything possible to support the Nigerian
government’s efforts to find these girls and bring them home.
In these girls, Barack and I see our own daughters. We see
their hopes, their dreams – and we can only imagine the anguish their
parents are feeling right now.
Many of them may have been hesitant to send their daughters off to school, fearing that harm might come their way.
But they took that risk because they believed in their daughters’ promise and wanted to give them every opportunity to succeed.
The girls themselves also knew full well the dangers they might encounter.
Their school had recently been closed due to terrorist threats…but these girls still insisted on returning to take their exams.
They were so determined to
move to the next level of their education…so determined to one day build
careers of their own and make their families and communities proud.
And what happened in
Nigeria was not an isolated incident…it’s a story we see every day as
girls around the world risk their lives to pursue their ambitions.
It’s the story of girls like Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan.
Malala spoke out for girls’ education in her community…and
as a result, she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman while on a
school bus with her classmates.
But fortunately Malala
survived…and when I met her last year, I could feel her passion and
determination as she told me that girls’ education is still her life’s
mission.
As Malala said in her address to the United Nations, she
said “The terrorists thought that they would change our aims and stop
our ambitions but nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear
and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born.”
The courage and hope embodied by Malala and girls like her around the world should serve as a call to action.
Because right now, more than 65 million girls worldwide are not in school.
Yet, we know that girls who are educated make higher wages, lead healthier lives, and have healthier families.
And when more girls attend secondary school, that boosts their country’s entire economy.
So education is truly a girl’s best chance for a bright future, not just for herself, but for her family and her nation.
And that’s true right here in the U.S. as well…so I hope
the story of these Nigerian girls will serve as an inspiration for every
girl – and boy – in this country.
I hope that any young people in America who take school
for granted – any young people who are slacking off or thinking of
dropping out – I hope they will learn the story of these girls and
recommit themselves to their education.
These girls embody the best hope for the future of our
world…and we are committed to standing up for them not just in times of
tragedy or crisis, but for the long haul.
We are committed to giving them the opportunities they deserve to fulfill every last bit of their God-given potential.
So today, let us all pray for their safe return... let us
hold their families in our hearts during this very difficult time…and
let us show just a fraction of their courage in fighting to give every
girl on this planet the education that is her birthright.
Bell Multicultural High School,
Columbia Heights Education Campus
Washington, D.C.
MRS. OBAMA: Well, good morning. How are you all doing? You good?
STUDENTS: Yes.
MRS. OBAMA: Let me tell you, I’m thrilled to be back here at the
Columbia Heights Education Campus. How many of you guys were here when
the President and I were here the last time? (Applause.) Yes, show --
applause are good. That will help me out. That’s good.
So you guys have made some good progress, and now we’re back because
we are so proud of what you all have been doing here, and we thought
that this was the best place to begin this conversation.
So let me start by thanking Menbere for that very kind introduction.
She is a proud representative of what this school can do, and her story
is one that we want you all to emulate.
I also want to recognize Mayor Gray, as well as Kaya Henderson, the
Chancellor of the D.C. Public Schools. And of course, I want to
recognize your principal, Principal Tukeva, and all of the faculty and
staff here at Bell Multicultural High School. Thank you for hosting us.
Of course, I want to thank Secretary Duncan for joining me today, as
well as Jeff and Keshia and everyone from 106 & Park for helping to
facilitate today’s discussion. Let’s give them all a big round of
applause. (Applause.)
But most of all, I want to recognize all of the young people who are
here with us, the sophomores here at CHEC. And I wanted to come here
today because you guys and students like you across America are at the
heart of one of my husband’s most important goals as President.
See, when Barack came into office, one of the very first things he did
was to set what he calls a North Star goal for the entire country -–
that by the year 2020, the year that all of you will be graduating from
college, that this country will have the highest proportion of college
graduates in the world.
Now, Barack set this goal because as a -- a generation ago, we were
number one in college graduates. But over the past couple of decades,
this country has slipped all the way to 12th. We’ve slipped. And
that’s unacceptable, and we’ve all got a lot of work to do to turn that
around and get back on top.
But Barack didn’t just set that goal because it’s good for our
country. He did it because he knows how important higher education is
to all of you as individuals. Because when the year 2020 rolls around,
nearly two-thirds of all jobs in this country are going to require some
form of training beyond high school. That means whether it’s a
vocational program, community college, a four-year university, you all
are going to need some form of higher education in order to build the
kind of lives that you want for yourselves, good careers, to be able to
provide for your family.
And that’s why the President and Secretary Duncan have been doing
everything they can to make sure that kids like you get the best
education possible and that you have everything you need to continue
your education after high school. They’ve been fighting to strengthen
your schools and to support your teachers. They’ve been working hard to
make college more affordable for all young people in this country no
matter where you come from or how much money your parents have. They’ve
been working with parents, teachers, administrators, community leaders
all across this country just to help you succeed.
But here’s the thing -- and I want you to listen to this -- at the end
of the day, no matter what the President does, no matter what your
teachers and principals do or whatever is going on in your home or in
your neighborhood, the person with the biggest impact on your education
is you. It’s that simple. It is you, the student. And more than
anything else, meeting that 2020 goal is going to take young people like
all of you across this country stepping up and taking control of your
education.
And that’s what we’re going to talk about today. We’re going to talk
about the power that each of you has to commit to your education. We’re
going to talk about the power that you have to fulfill your potential
and unlock opportunities that you can’t even begin to imagine for
yourselves right now. And when I talk about students needing to take
responsibility for their education, I want you all to know that I’m
speaking from my own personal life experience.
Like Menbere, growing up, I considered myself pretty lucky. Even
though my parents didn’t have a lot of money, they never went to college
themselves, they had an unwavering belief in the power of education.
So they always pushed me and my brother to do whatever it took to
succeed in school. So when it came time for me to go to high school,
they encouraged me to enroll in one of the best schools in Chicago. It
was a school a lot like this one.
And listening to Menbere’s story, it was so similar, because my school
was way across the other side of the city from where I lived. So at
6:00 a.m. every morning, I had to get on a city bus and ride for an
hour, sometimes more, just to get to school. And I was willing to do
that because I was willing to do whatever it took for me to go to
college.
I set my sights high. I decided I was going to Princeton. But I
quickly realized that for me, a kid like me, getting into Princeton
wasn’t just going to happen on its own. See I went to a great school,
but at my school we had so many kids, so few guidance counselors, they
were dealing with hundreds of students so they didn’t always have much
time to help me personally get my applications together. Plus, I knew I
couldn’t afford to go on a bunch of college visits. I couldn't hire a
personal tutor. I couldn't enroll in SAT prep classes. We didn't have
the money.
And then -- get this –- some of my teachers straight up told me that I
was setting my sights too high. They told me I was never going to get
into a school like Princeton. I still hear that doubt ringing in my
head. So it was clear to me that nobody was going to take my hand and
lead me to where I needed to go.
Instead, it was going to be up to me to reach my goal. I would have to
chart my own course. And I knew that the first thing I needed to do
was have the strongest academic record possible.
So I worked hard to get the best grades I could in all of my classes. I
got involved in leadership opportunities in school where I developed
close relationships with some of my teachers and administrators. I knew
I needed to present very solid and thoughtful college applications, so I
stayed up late, got up early in the morning to work on my essays and
personal statements. I knew my parents would not be able to pay for all
of my tuition, so I made sure that I applied for financial aid on
time. That FAFSA form was my best friend. I knew the deadlines,
everything.
Most importantly, when I encountered doubters, when people told me I
wasn’t going to cut it, I didn't let that stop me -- in fact, I did the
opposite. I used that negativity to fuel me, to keep me going. And at
the end, I got into Princeton, and that was one of the proudest days of
my life.
But getting into Princeton was only the beginning. Graduating from
Princeton was my ultimate goal. So I had to start all over again,
developing and executing a plan that would lead me to my goal. And of
course, I struggled a little bit. I had to work hard, again, to find a
base of friends and build a community of support for myself in this Ivy
League University.
I remember as a freshman I mistakenly rolled into a class that was
meant for juniors and seniors. And there were times when I felt like I
could barely keep my head above water. But through it all, I kept that
college diploma as my North Star. And four years later, I reached that
goal, and then I went on to build a life I never could have imagined for
myself.
I went to law school, became a lawyer. I’ve been a vice president for a
hospital. I’ve been the head of a nonprofit organization. And I am
here today because I want you to know that my story can be your story.
The details might be a little different, but let me tell you, so many of
the challenges and the triumphs will be just the same.
You might be dreaming of becoming a doctor or a teacher; maybe a
mechanic or a software designer. Or you might not know what you want to
do right now –- and that’s fine. But no matter what path you choose,
no matter what dreams you have, you have got to do whatever it takes to
continue your education after high school –- again, whether that’s going
to community college, getting a technical certificate, or completing a
training opportunity, or going off to a four-year college.
And once you’ve completed your education, you will have the foundation
you need to build a successful life. That’s how me, that’s how Menbere,
that’s how so many other students have overcome adversities to reach
our goals.
There’s another young man, Roger Sanchez. He is another example of a CHEC alum who is working toward his North Star goal.
In fifth grade, Roger came to the United States from the Dominican
Republic to live with his mother. When Roger arrived in America, he
could barely speak a word of English. He often couldn’t understand
anything his teachers were saying, so he decided to put a piece of paper
in his pocket so he could jot down all the new words he heard, and then
he’d ask his friends and teachers to translate for him.
He went to the library and poured through books and videos and
cassettes to help teach himself English. And after all those hours of
studying and practicing, Roger arrived here at Bell ready to thrive.
And every day, he put the same effort into his classes that he put into
learning English. He joined the baseball, the football teams. He
helped found your Global Kids Club so that students could discuss world
issues. And last spring, he graduated with nearly a 4.0 GPA.
And today, Roger is a freshman at American University. He’s majoring
in international relations, and he also volunteers as a mentor. He’s
paying it forward. He’s helping high school students just like all of
you with their college applications and essays. And I had a chance to
meet Roger, who’s here today, and I'd like to -- Roger, can you stand up
if you’re in the audience so we can give you a round of applause?
We’re so proud of you. There Roger is. (Applause.) Congratulations.
So every day, students like Menbere and Roger and all of you are
proving that it is not your circumstance that define your future -- it’s
your attitude. It’s your commitment. You decide how high you set your
goals. You decide how hard you’re going to work for those goals. You
decide how you’re going to respond when something doesn’t go your way.
And here’s the thing: Studies show that those kinds of skills –-
skills like grit, determination, skills like optimism and resilience –-
those skills can be just as important as your test scores or your grade
scores -- or your grades. And so many of you already have those skills
because of everything you’ve already overcome in your lives.
Maybe you’ve had problems at home and you’ve had to step up, take on
extra responsibilities for your family. Maybe you come from a tough
neighborhood, and you’ve been surrounded by things like violence and
drugs. Maybe one of your parents has lost a job and you’ve had to
struggle just to make it here today.
One of the most important things you all must understand about
yourselves is that those experiences are not weaknesses. They’re not
something to be ashamed of. Experiences like those can make you
stronger and more determined. They can teach you all kinds of skills
that you could never learn in a classroom –- the skills that will lead
you to success anywhere in life. But first, you’ve got to apply those
skills toward getting an education.
So what does that mean? That means, first and foremost, believing in
yourselves no matter what obstacles you face. It means going to class
every single day -- that’s what I did -- not just showing up, but
actually paying attention, taking some notes, asking questions.
It means doing your homework every single night -- I did -- studying
hard for every test, even if it’s not your favorite subject. It means
reaching out to your teachers and counselors and coaches and asking for
help whenever you need it. And when you stumble and fall –- and I
guarantee you, you will, because we all do –- it means picking yourself
up and trying again and again and again.
All of that is on you. You’ve got to own that part of it. You’ve got
to step up as individuals. Because here’s the key: If you step up, if
you choose to own your future and commit to your education, and if you
don’t let anything stand in your way until you complete it, then you
will not only lead our country to that North Star goal, but you will
lead yourselves to whatever future you dream of.
That is my message for all of you today. And over these next few
years, I’m going to continue sharing that message all across the country
and all across the world to students just like you. We, with the help
of Arne and the President and everyone in this administration, we’re
going to do everything we can to help connect you to all the resources
that are available to help you on your journey -– many resources that
weren’t around when I was your age.
For example, we’re going to tell students about our College Navigator
and College Scorecard that can help you find affordable programs that
fit your interests, your goals. We also want to make sure that you know
about websites like StudentAid.gov, which helps you apply for grants
and loans, and also provides you with a year-by-year checklist so you
know what you need to be doing to get you to college, or whatever
program you need to get to.
But I also believe that this conversation -- it’s got to be a two-way
conversation. I know that you all have important things to say, you
have important questions that you deserve answers to, and that that’s
why I want to make sure that I continue to hear your stories as well as
talking to you. I want to hear about your dreams. I want to hear about
the things you're worried about. I want folks like me and my husband
and your teachers and parents, I want you to tell us what we can do to
help you get to college and fulfill your dreams.
So that’s what we’re going to do next. I’m going to step away from the
podium, and Secretary Duncan, Menbere, Jeff, and Keshia are going to
come back out, and we’re going to talk. We’re going to ask you some
questions, you’re going to ask you some questions. We’ll listen. I
don't want you go be shy, I want you to be relaxed, okay? And we’ll
talk more about how do we get you to your goals, okay? And hopefully,
this conversation here will help students around the country.
So are you all ready for that? You have questions?
STUDENTS: Yes.
MRS. OBAMA: All right. Well, let’s get it started. Let’s bring out
the other panelists. You all, thank you so much. We love you, and I’m
so proud of you all. Keep going. (Applause.)
Remarks of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
December 22, 2012
THE PRESIDENT: Hi everybody. This weekend, as you
gather with family and friends, Michelle and I want to wish you a Merry
Christmas and a Happy Holidays.
THE FIRST LADY:We both love this time of year.
And there’s nothing quite like celebrating the holidays at the White
House. It’s an incredible experience and one that we try to share with
as many folks as possible.
This month, more than 90,000 people have come through the
White House to see the holiday decorations. And our theme for this
year’s holiday season was “Joy to All” – a reminder to appreciate the
many joys of the holidays: the joy of giving…the joy of service…and, of
course, the joy of homecomings.
THE PRESIDENT: That’s right. This weekend,
parents are picking up their kids from college – and making room for all
that laundry they bring with them. Children are counting down the
hours until the grandparents arrive. And uncles, aunts and cousins are
all making their way to join the family and share in the holiday spirit.
THE FIRST LADY:That’s what makes this season so special – getting to spend time with the people we love most.
THE PRESIDENT: And this year, that’s especially
true for some of our military families. You see, the war in Iraq is
over. The transition in Afghanistan is underway. After a decade of
war, our heroes are coming home. And all across America, military
families are reuniting.
So this week let’s give thanks for our veterans and their
families. And let’s say a prayer for all our troops – especially those
in Afghanistan – who are spending this holiday overseas, risking their
lives to defend the freedoms we hold dear.
THE FIRST LADY:And remember, when our men and
women in uniform answer the call to serve, their families serve right
along with them. Across this country, military spouses have been
raising their families all alone during those long deployments. And
let’s not forget about our military kids, moving from base to base – and
school to school – every few years, and stepping up to help out at home
when mom or dad is away.
Our military families sacrifice so much on our behalf, and
Barack and I believe that we should serve them as well as they serve
this country. That’s why Dr. Jill Biden and I started Joining Forces –
an effort to rally all Americans to honor and support our veterans and
military families. Just go to joiningforces.gov to find out how you can
show your gratitude for their service.
THE PRESIDENT: Because that’s what this season is
all about. For my family and millions of Americans, it’s a time to
celebrate the birth of Christ. To reflect on His life and learn from His
example. Every year, we commit to love one another. To give of
ourselves. To be our brother’s keeper. To be our sister’s keeper. But
those ideas are not just part of our faith. They’re part of all
faiths. And they unite us as Americans.
THE FIRST LADY:In this country, we take care of
each other. And in this season of giving, it’s inspiring to see so many
people all across America taking the time to help those most in need.
THE PRESIDENT: That’s part of what makes us such a
compassionate nation. And this year, I know many of you are extending
that kindness to the families who are still picking up the pieces from
Hurricane Sandy and your prayers to the people of Newtown, Connecticut.
THE FIRST LADY:So thank you for all that you’ve done this year on behalf of your fellow Americans.
THE PRESIDENT: And on behalf of my favorite Americans – Michelle, Malia, Sasha and Bo – Merry Christmas, everybody.
MRS. OBAMA: Thank you all so much. Please be seated. Forgot you all
take orders really well. (Laughter.) I am beyond thrilled to be here
with all of you today at Naval Station Mayport. And I want to start by
thanking Paul for that very kind and, for me, moving introduction. And I
also want to thank Vice Admiral Van Buskirk for his remarks as well
today and for his strong leadership in America’s Navy.
And I also want to recognize a couple of people who are here --
Representative Brown for her service. I understand the Mayor is here as
well. But I also want to thank Rear Admiral Sinclair Harris and his
wife, Cora; Captain Douglas Cochrane and his wife, Anne; as well as
Command Master Chief Robert White and his wife, Lesley. Thank you for
hosting us here today.
But most of all, I want to thank all of you, our extraordinary men and
women in uniform and veterans, and your extraordinary families.
I know that we’re being broadcast live into every U.S. military base –-
here in America and around the world –- and we’ve got folks tuning in
from as close by as Tampa and Pensacola, and as far away as Kabul and
Seoul. And on behalf of myself and my husband, I want to start off by
saying that we are so proud of your service and so grateful for your
sacrifice.
You all -- and I say this time and time again, and I mean it every time
I say it -- you all are the very best of America. You all have given
so much to this country. And I’m here today because I want to talk with
you about what this country is doing to give back to all of you.
As you all may know, last August -- I think you saw a video -- my
husband issued a challenge to American businesses. He challenged them
to hire or train 100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of
2013. And since Jill Biden and I launched Joining Forces, he asked the
two of us to take the lead on working with companies to fulfill this
challenge. And I have to admit, when you get an order from the
President, it’s a little daunting, even if he is your husband.
(Laughter.)
So I was a little nervous, and I thought this challenge was pretty
ambitious. And when we first started out, we only had two companies as
our partners, and I wondered to myself how we were going to get from
there to 100,000 new jobs in two years.
But, fortunately, I didn’t have much time to sit around and worry,
because before long, companies across this country started stepping up
-- big companies like Siemens and Sears; small businesses like tech
startups and restaurants and transportation providers. And soon, those
two companies became 20, and then 200, and then 2,000.
And by mid-March, these companies had already hired 50,000 veterans and
military spouses. By mid-April, it was 60,000. By May, we had
80,000. And today, I am so proud to announce that these 2,000 companies
have not just met our challenge -- they’ve exceeded it.
As of today, they have hired or trained 125,000 veterans and military
spouses –- 125,000. (Applause.) And they’ve done it more than a year
ahead of schedule. That’s pretty impressive.
And it would be understandable if these companies just stopped now and
patted themselves on the back for a job well done and called it a day.
But instead, these companies are doing just the opposite –- they’re
doubling down on their commitment to all of you. And today, they’re
pledging to hire or train another quarter of a million of our nation’s
heroes -- a quarter of a million -- 250,000 -– including at least 50,000
military spouses. (Applause.)
I want to send a very clear message to the men and women who are
wearing or who have worn our country’s uniform, and to their spouses:
When you have finished your service to our nation, you have got 2,000
great American companies ready and waiting to bring you on board.
Because the truth is, they know, they’ve learned what you all have to
offer. And I can’t say this enough. These companies are not making
these commitments just because it’s the right thing to do -- which it is
-- they’re doing this because it’s the smart thing to do for their
bottom lines. I think the CEO of Sears put it best when he said at one
of our events -- and this is a quote -- he said, "The men and women of
our military, their spouses and their families are some of the most
gifted, talented employees that we have in the company." That's what
he said based on his experience.
And that’s a story that we have heard thousands of times over, because
these companies know that if you can repair a helicopter engine in
Mayport, if you can coordinate thousands of pounds of supplies being
delivered to villages across Afghanistan, then clearly, you have what it
takes for a manufacturing or a logistics job right here in the U.S.
If you can work with sophisticated radar that guide high-speed missiles
into other places, outer space, if you can operate complex
communications systems from a tent in a desert, then clearly, you’re
ready to succeed in our high-tech industries here at home.
If you can work with people from all different cultures and
backgrounds, if you can lead dozens, even hundreds of your peers in
life-or-death missions, then clearly, you’ve got the management and
interpersonal skills that we need in every sector of this economy.
So make no mistake about it, you all have the talent, you’ve got the
training and the experience to lead America’s economic comeback, and
America’s businesses understand that. And that's why they’ve stepped up
so readily to answer this call. That’s why they’re hiring folks like
all of you every day all across this country.
And that’s part of the reason why the unemployment rate for veterans
has been dropping. And so far this year, the number of unemployed
veterans is nearly 20 percent lower than it was a year ago. So we are
moving in the right direction. But let’s be very clear that we are
nowhere near where we need to be -- nowhere near. When it comes to
employment for our veterans and military spouses, we have still got a
long way to go.
So while our businesses are doing their part, my husband is making sure
that our government is doing its part, as well. That’s why he’s
proposed a Veterans Job Corps, investing $1 billion to help our veterans
become police officers, EMTs and other jobs serving our communities
here at home. And last year, he signed two new tax credits to make it
easier for businesses to create jobs for veterans, including wounded
warriors -– and he’s fighting to extend those credits before they expire
at the end of this year.
And to make sure that you all know about all the jobs being created,
we’ve worked with companies like Google and Linkedin to create the
Veterans Job Bank. Now, this is a website where companies who want to
hire veterans can post their jobs. And you all can find it, anyone
listening, you can right to nrd.gov.
There are now more than 1 million jobs posted on that site –- 1
million jobs today, right now, along with the skills translator, special
software that takes your military specialty -– your NEC -– and it
shows you what jobs would be a good fit for you in the civilian world.
So that website is out there, and it’s available for everyone who is
watching.
And finally, we’re making it easier for our military spouses to
actually get these jobs by challenging all 50 states to help them
transfer their professional licenses when they move from state to
state. Because if you’re a nurse or a teacher or a real estate agent or
a dental hygienist, or have one of the many jobs that require a
professional license, we know that you shouldn’t have to face a new
licensing effort -- new fees, new paperwork and red tape every time your
family moves to a new state. That's ridiculous. And so far, 26 states
have adopted measures to help military spouses transfer their licenses
or more easily obtain new ones.
And today, again, I want to renew our challenge to those remaining 24
states to find their own solutions to ensure that our military spouses
can continue to provide for their families and practice the professions
they love, because more than anything else, truly, that is the story of
Joining Forces. That’s why we started this effort -- because it’s the
story of folks across this country stepping up and doing everything they
can to serve all of you as well as you have served this country.
Whether it’s doctors and nurses improving treatment for PTSD and TBI,
whether it’s teachers reaching out to our military kids, whether it’s TV
shows like Sesame Street and organizations like NASCAR sharing the
stories of military families, or people spending millions of hours
serving veterans and military families in their communities, since we
launched Joining Forces, what I have to just let you know is that not a
single person that we’ve approached or talked to has ever told us that
they couldn’t help. Not one. Instead, they ask us, what more can I do,
and what else can I do?
And every day, we’re seeing the impact of these efforts in communities
across this country –- in the military kids whose teachers finally
understand what they’re going through; in veterans who are finally
getting the quality care they’ve earned.
And today, we’re seeing it in 125,000 men and women who have now --
have the jobs and training they deserve -- 125,000 people who are
providing for their families and contributing to our economy and
continuing every day to serve the country they love.
And this is just the beginning. We are only scratching the surface.
We’re just getting started. And we’re not going to stop until all of
our veterans know that when they hit that job market, their skills will
be rewarded. We won’t stop until all of our military spouses know that
the next time their family is transferred, they won’t have to leave
behind their professional lives. And I won’t be satisfied -- nor will
my husband -– until every single veteran and military spouse who wants a
job has one. All of you deserve nothing less. Nothing less.
So today, I want to once again thank you all. Thank you for your
service to our country. You all make us so incredibly proud. So let
the work continue.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) Good morning.
Thank you. Thank you so much. Everybody, please have a seat. Have a
seat. Well, it is great to see all of you, and I hope you guys are
having a wonderful summer.
I am joined here today by moms and dads, husbands and wives,
middle-class Americans who work hard every single day to provide for
their families. And like most Americans, they work hard and they don’t
ask for much. They do expect, however, that their hard work is going to
pay off. They want to know that if they put in enough effort, if they
are acting responsibly, then they can afford to pay the bills; that they
can afford to own a home that they call their own; that they can afford
to secure their retirement; and most of all, that they can afford to
give their kids greater opportunity -- that their children and
grandchildren can achieve things that they didn’t even imagine.
Every single decision that I make is focused on giving them that chance
-- because if we want to keep moving this country forward, these are
the folks who are going to get us there.
This morning, we learned that our businesses created 172,000 new jobs
in the month of July. That means that we've now created 4.5 million new
jobs over the last 29 months -- and 1.1 million new jobs so far this
year. Those are our neighbors and family members finding work, and the
security that comes with work.
But let’s acknowledge, we’ve still got too many folks out there who are
looking for work. We’ve got more work to do on their behalf -- not
only to reclaim all the jobs that were lost during the recession, but
also to reclaim the kind of financial security that too many Americans
have felt was slipping away from them for too long.
And we knew when I started in this job that this was going to take some
time. We haven’t had to come back from an economic crisis this deep or
this painful since the 1930s. But we also knew that if we were
persistent, if we kept at it and kept working, that we’d gradually get
to where we need to be.
Here’s the thing. We are not going to get there, we’re not going to
get to where we need to be if we go back to the policies that helped to
create this mess in the first place. And the last thing that we should
be doing is asking middle-class families who are still struggling to
recover from this recession to pay more in taxes.
Rebuilding a strong economy begins with rebuilding our middle class.
And what we should do right now is give middle-class families and small
business owners a guarantee that their taxes will not go up next year.
When families have the security of knowing that their taxes won’t go up
they’re more likely to spend, and more likely to grow the economy. When
small business owners have certainty on taxes and can plan ahead
they’re more likely to hire and create new jobs. And that benefits all
of us.
And that’s why, last week, I was pleasantly surprised -- I was glad to
see the Senate come together and extend tax cuts on the first $250,000
of every family’s income. That means 98 percent of Americans won’t see
their income taxes go up next year. That means that 97 percent of small
businesses wouldn’t see their income taxes go up next year. Not a
single dime. That would be important.
And that’s why it’s so disappointing that, so far at least, House
Republicans have refused to follow the Senate’s example and do the same
thing. On Wednesday, they voted to hold these middle-class tax cuts
hostage unless we also spend a trillion dollars over the next decade on
tax breaks for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. In fact, it’s a
little worse than that because their plan would actually raise taxes on
25 million hardworking American families by about $1,000 each.
So, at a time when too many working families are already struggling to
make ends meet, they want to give millionaires and billionaires and
folks like me tax cuts that we don’t need and that the country can’t
afford, even if middle-class families have to pick up the tab for it.
Those are their priorities.
And this week, we learned that there's some in the Republican Party who
don’t want to stop there. An independent, non-partisan study found
that one plan at least would give more tax cuts to millionaires and
billionaires, and they’d pay for those tax cuts by raising taxes on the
middle class -- an average tax hike of more than $2,000 for families
with children.
Now, I just think we’ve got our priorities skewed if the notion is that
we give tax breaks to folks who don't need them and, to help pay for
that, we tax folks who are already struggling to get by. That's not how
you grow an economy. You grow an economy from the middle out, and from
the bottom up. And the kind of approach that the House Republicans are
talking about is bad for our families and it’s bad for our economy.
The people standing behind me should not have to pay more just so the
wealthiest Americans can pay less. That’s not just top-down economics,
that's upside-down economics. (Laughter.)
Instead of the middle class paying more, we should ask the wealthiest
Americans to pay a little more, a modest amount, so that we can reduce
our deficit and still make investments in things like education that
help our economy grow.
And keep in mind, we're talking about folks like me going back to the
tax rates that existed under Bill Clinton. If you remember, that was
when we created 23 million new jobs, we went from deficits to surplus,
and folks at the top did well, too -- because when middle-class families
have money in their pockets, they go out and buy that new car, or that
new appliance, or that new computer for their kids, or they go out to a
restaurant, or, heaven forbid, they take a vacation once in a while.
And that money goes back into the economy, and businesses do well
because they've got more customers.
And here's the thing -- there are a lot of well-to-do Americans,
patriotic Americans, who understand this and are willing to do the right
thing, willing to do their part to make this country strong.
So, for those of you who are keeping score at home, here’s where we
stand. We might have a whole bunch of disagreements with folks in the
other party on whether it’s a good idea to spend more money giving tax
breaks to millionaires or billionaires. And frankly, that issue is
probably not going to be resolved until after November. In the
meantime, though, we say we all agree on extending tax cuts for
middle-class families. The House says it agrees. The Senate has already
shown that it agrees. And I certainly agree. So let’s at least work
on what we agree on.
Let’s keep taxes low for 98 percent of Americans, and we can argue
about the other 2 percent. Let's keep taxes low for the 97 percent of
small business owners, and we can argue about the other 3 percent. If
Congress sends me a clean bill extending the tax cuts on the first
$250,000 of every family’s income, I will sign it right away.
(Applause.) I will sign it right away.
There’s no reason to wait. There’s no reason to make families and
small businesses anxious just so one party can score political points.
Let’s go ahead and give them that guarantee now that their taxes won’t
go up next year.
And keep in mind -- just one last point I want to make -- we're saying
nobody's income taxes go up on the first $250,000 of their income. So
even somebody who makes more than $250,000 is still getting a tax break
on their first $250.000. Yuu understand? Even somebody who's worth
$200 million -- on that first $250,000 they're still paying lower taxes.
It's the right thing to do. It's the smart thing to do. It would be
good for the economy, and most importantly, it would be good for your
families.
So we're going to have plenty to argue about in the next three months,
and probably in the next five years. (Laughter.) This shouldn’t be one
of those things we argue about. (Applause.)
Let’s do what the American people sent us here to do. Let's work on
those things we can agree on; let's make progress; let's do right by the
people behind me, and the millions of Americans that they represent.
I’m going to be fighting every single day to make sure that you have
opportunity. I expect, and I hope, that Congress will do the same.
So, thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. God bless America. And have a great weekend. (Applause.)
MRS. OBAMA: Hey, again, guys. I got to hang out with the kids
earlier. We got quick pictures, but we are excited to have you guys
here at the White House. We’re in the State Room. The State Dining
Room is where we greet special official guests, and you guys count as
our special official guests. We’re excited to have you here.
I want to start by thanking all of you kids for joining us here at the
White House today. Tell me -- yell out -- tell me the organizations
you’re representing -- somebody? See, you guys are from all over the
place -- some here, some from all over the country, right?
Well, thanks for coming and visiting us. I also want to thank the
members of the L.A. Galaxy soccer team for taking the time to come and
answer some questions, and share some wisdom and some advice for all of
you. So let’s give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)
So as soccer players, you know who these guys are, don’t you?
CHILDREN: Yes.
MRS. OBAMA: They’re pretty cool, right? They are some of the best
soccer players in the entire country and the entire world. Amazing,
huh? And they’re here! They’re right there, they’re right there.
And I want to congratulate them -- join in with my husband in
congratulating them on winning the third MLS Cup. Very cool, very
cool.
But one of the things I want you guys to remember -- all the kids here
to remember, is that these stars were not born superstar athletes. They
weren’t superstar soccer players from the beginning. In fact, many of
them started out just like many of you -- playing on a team at school,
or just kicking a ball around on the playground with their friends. But
they stuck with it. And I tell this to my girls all the time. I mean,
you get to the point when there are things that you enjoy, they get to
the point where they start getting hard -- that’s when you know you’re
getting good, and you have to stick through it even when it starts
getting hard.
For some of you, soccer has always been fun, will always be fun, but
sometimes, when you start growing, you get to the point where you really
have to work hard. Well, they all hit that wall, and they stuck with
it. They practice for hours every day doing all their drills and
scrimmages, doing everything that their coaches and mentors told them to
do. And that’s how they got to be national champions. But remember,
they didn’t do all of this just because they wanted to win their games.
Winning is great, right? We all know how to win. Winning is the
easiest thing in the world to do. But what is the toughest thing? Is
learning how to lose, right?
So they didn’t do it just to win. They didn’t do it because they
wanted to grow up to be famous. They played soccer because they love
the sport. And they played because it was challenging and fun, and
because it made they feel strong and healthy. And that’s what sports
like soccer are all about. And they’re learning about new skills.
They’re learning how to compete. They’re learning how to lose
gracefully, how to win with dignity. All of that stuff is important
with sports.
And that’s one of the reasons why when the weather is nice -- because
it was raining; we were supposed to be outside, but they said there were
would be thunderstorms. We’re usually outside. We’ve been hosting all
kinds of fitness activities and clinics on the South Lawn. Have some
of you guys participated in those? Nobody has had -- I thought -- we’ve
had -- (laughter) -- yes, we’ve had some fun on the South Lawn. We
were supposed out there today, but because they projected thunderstorms,
we thought we wouldn’t have you out there getting struck by lightning.
That wouldn’t look good. (Laughter.) So we brought you inside.
But we’ve been hosting these clinics on the South Lawn, which is our
backyard here at the White House, because we want to show kids just like
you that there are all kinds of ways to be active, and that being
active is also a whole lot of fun. So a lot of what we do while there
are soccer drills and things like that going on, we’re doing a lot of
playing around and laughing, and realizing that that’s what being
healthy is about. It’s not always work; most of the time it’s a lot of
fun.
And that’s also why in connection with the Olympic and Paralympic Games
that are coming up -- you guys know about that? You know that we’re
going to be in London competing with teams all across the world. You
know that? And I’m going to be leading the delegation. I’m not playing
a sport or anything -- (laughter) -- I am not an Olympian. But I get
to lead the delegation that represents the United States.
But as part of the Olympic Games, the U.S. Soccer Federation has made a
really important commitment that I got to announce yesterday. They’re
going to be working to help increase opportunities for kids to get
involved in a whole variety of sports, especially soccer. Soccer has
really stepped up.
They’re going to be hosting more clinics and more after-school programs
in cities all across the country so that more kids like you get
exposure to opportunities that maybe normally you wouldn’t, or it gives
you even a little more excitement to get even more committed into your
sport.
Because the Federation also knows and these guys up here know that
being active and learning new skills doesn’t just help you become a
better soccer player or a better athlete. It gives you the energy that
you need to keep you from getting sick, to do well in school, to be able
to focus on your bigger dreams -- because there is life after soccer.
There is something more important than sports, and that’s becoming a
well-rounded person.
And being healthy and eating the right foods, and staying active is a
part of that. And that’s what everybody here is trying to promote. And
that’s why I’m so pleased with our U.S. Olympic Federation and all the
teams that have made a commitment to invest in kids like you across the
country.
So that’s one of the reasons why we’re here. But we’re also here
because this team, these guys, they wanted to talk to you. They’re here
because they were getting congratulations from the President, but they
also said they wanted to talk to kids just like you. And I’m really
pleased that you guys are so interested in taking the time not just to
play the game but to spend time with young people, talking to them about
a whole range of things. So they are here for you.
And I’m going to leave and let them step up. But feel free to ask them
any kind of questions. And I’ve already talked to you all -- you all
are not shy. None of them are. Right? So speak up, ask questions.
Ask about anything you have on your mind. Don’t be nervous. You’re at
home. And have fun, okay? And keep playing hard, working hard, doing
well in school, and eat your vegetables. (Laughter.) All right?
All right, I’m going to get out of here and let these guys take over. Thanks so much. (Applause.)
