Administration of Barack Obama, 2010 / Feb. 6

Thanks for listening. by the Office of the Press Secretary on Febru- ary 5, but was embargoed for release until 6 NOTE: The address was recorded at approxi- a.m. on February 6. The Office of the Press mately 4:40 p.m. on February 5 in the Red Secretary also released a Spanish language tran- Room at the White House for broadcast on script of this address. February 6. The transcript was made available

Remarks During a Meeting With the Democratic National Committee February 6, 2010

Thank you, DNC. Everybody have a seat, Now, Tim alluded to this, but I just want to have a seat. Thank you. Oh, it is good to see remind everybody, we knew from the beginning you, good to be among friends so committed to that this would not be easy. Change never is. the future of this party and this country that But that’s especially true in these times, when they’re willing to brave a blizzard. [Laugh- we face an array of challenges as tough as any ter] “Snowmageddon” here in DC. [Laughter] I we have seen in generations. President Kenne- noticed somebody had “Californians for dy once said: “When we got into office, the Obama,” and I was thinking, you guys are not thing that surprised me most was to find that used to this. [Laughter] things were just as bad as we’d been saying they I’ve got some special thanks to the folks here. were.” [Laughter] Truth was things were worse. First of all I want to thank Eleanor Holmes We took office facing a financial crisis that Norton for fighting the good fight here in the was something we hadn’t seen since the Great District of Columbia; Ray Buckley, our DNC Depression, an economy that we now know was vice chair from New Hampshire; Alice Ger- bleeding 750,000 jobs a month, a $1.3 trillion mond, DNC secretary; Andy Tobias, DNC trea- deficit, and two wars that were costly in every surer. Thanks for the great work that you guys sense of the word. From the specter of terror- do. ism to the impacts of globalization, we face tre- I want to thank Tim Kaine, who’s not only an mendous new challenges in this young century. outstanding former Governor, but an outstand- And all of this comes on top of one of the tough- ing leader of this party—busy building the best est decades our middle class had ever faced, a online and infield grassroots organization we’ve decade where jobs grew more slowly than dur- ever had. Give Tim Kaine a big round of ap- ing any prior expansion, where the income of plause. the average American household actually de- And if I’m not mistaken, we’ve got a couple clined, where the costs of everything seemed to of terrific Members of Congress here, Mike keep going up. Honda, Congressman and DNC vice Everything we’ve done over the past year has chair—Mike, are you here? He’s on his way; been not only to right our economy, to break he’s still shoveling. [Laughter] And how about the back of this recession, but also to restore Barbara Lee, is Barbara here? Well, we love her some of the security middle class families have anyway. So give Barbara and Mike a big round felt slipping away for over a decade now. Some of applause. of the steps we took were done without the help I want to thank the Governors, the legisla- of the other party, which made a political deci- tors, the mayors from across this country for sion all too often to jump in the backseat, let us working to move their States and local commu- do the driving and then critique whether we nities forward in extraordinarily challenging were taking the right turns. That’s okay. That’s times. They’ve done heroic work. I want to part of what it means to govern. thank the DNC members, State party leaders, And all the steps we took were necessary. and most of all, I want to thank the millions of None of us wanted to throw a lifeline to the Americans who’ve taken up the cause of change banks. But the outrage shouldn’t be that we did, at the grassroots level in all 50 States. because it had to happen in order to prevent

181 Feb. 6 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2010 millions more from losing their jobs, millions town, Pennsylvania; Elyria, Ohio; Tampa, of businesses and homes foreclosed. The real Florida; Nashua, New Hampshire, talking with outrage is that we had to do it in the first place workers in factories and families in diners. in order to fend off the collapse of the finan- And they want to know, how are they going to cial system. That’s the outrage. find a job when they only know one trade in Then we passed almost $300 billion in tax their life? Or how are they going to afford to relief: tax cuts for small businesses, tax cuts for send their kids to college? How are they going 95 percent of working Americans. We put to pay their medical bills when they get sick? Americans to work building the infrastructure How can they retire with their 401(k) so of tomorrow, doing the work America needs banged up? And most of all, they’re wondering done. We passed a credit card bill of rights to if anyone can or will do anything about it, es- protect consumers from getting ripped off by pecially here in Washington. credit card companies. We put the law behind Now, I understand their frustration; you un- the principle of equal pay for equal work. We derstand it as well. I was talking to Michelle extended the promise of health care to 4 mil- the other day—Michelle is always a good ba- lion more children of working families. We rometer—and you know, the front page was, protected every child from being targeted by oh, what’s Obama going to do to get his poll tobacco companies. numbers up? And are the Democrats all in a We passed a service bill named for Ted tizzy and this and that? And she said, “You Kennedy that gives young folks and old folks know, listen, if you’re the average family, if I’m new ways to give back to their communities. a mom out there and I’m working and my hus- We appointed Sonia Sotomayor to the Su- band is working, but we’re worried about los- preme Court. And we’ve begun working with ing our jobs, our hours have been cut back, the Congress and our military to finally repeal the cost of our health care premiums just went up law that denies gay Americans the right to 30 percent, the credit card company just serve the country that they love because of jacked up our interest rates 39 percent, and who they are. our home values have gone down by $100,000, Overseas, we’ve begun a new era of engage- our 401(k) is all banged up, and suddenly, ment. We’re working with our partners to stop somebody calls up and says, ‘So how do you the spread of nuclear weapons, and to seek a think President Obama is doing right now?’ world free of nuclear weapons. We banned [Laughter] What are they going to say? What torture. We have begun to leave Iraq to its are they going to say?” own people. We’ve charted a new way forward Of course people are frustrated. And they in Afghanistan and Pakistan and made good have every right to be. And I know that during progress in taking the fight to Al Qaida across the course of this gathering, you know, some the globe. I went to Cairo on behalf of Ameri- of the press have been running around, well, ca to begin a new dialogue with the Muslim what do you think we should be doing, and this world. And we are living up to a moment that and that and the other, and what’s the strate- demands American leadership by standing gy? side by side with the people of Haiti. Look, when unemployment is 9.7 percent, So if you look at a tally of the things we said when we are still digging ourselves out of an we would do, even in the midst of this extraor- extraordinary recession, people are going to be dinarily challenging economy, we’ve kept our frustrated. And they’re going to be looking to promises. We’ve kept our commitments. We the party in power to try to fix it. And when have moved forward on behalf of a more pros- you’ve got another party that says, we don’t perous and more secure future for the Ameri- want to do anything about it, of course people can people. are going to be frustrated. But for all our efforts, we have to acknowl- Folks are out there working hard every day, edge change can’t come fast enough for many trying to meet their responsibilities. But all Americans. In recent weeks, I’ve visited Allen- around them during this last “lost decade,”

182 Administration of Barack Obama, 2010 / Feb. 6 what they’ve seen is a wave of irresponsibility I’m not going to take a poll to figure out wheth- from Wall Street to Washington. They see a er or not we’re going to tackle education. capital city where every day is treated like elec- We can continue to allow the same special in- tion day and every act, every comment, every terests who stacked the deck in favor of finan- gesture passes through a political filter. They’ve cial speculators in the last decade to block re- seen the outsized influence of lobbyists and form again in this decade. But if we’ve learned special interests, who too often hijack the agen- anything from the devastating recession, it’s da by leveraging campaign money and connec- that we know that wise regulation actually can tions. Of course, they wonder if their leaders enhance the market and make it more stable can muster the will to overcome all of that and and make our economy work better. We can’t confront the real problems that touch their return to the dereliction of duty that helped de- lives. liver this recession. We know that to do so But here’s what everybody here has to re- would be to put at risk our jobs, our families, member: That’s why I ran for President. That’s our businesses, and our future. America can’t why you worked so hard to elect a Democratic afford to wait, and we can’t look backwards. Congress. We knew this stuff was tough. But we And yes, we could continue to ignore the stepped up because we decided we were going growing burden of runaway costs of health care. to take the responsibility of changing it. And it The easiest thing to do right now would be to may not be easy, but change is coming. just say this is too hard; let’s just regroup and I believe so strongly, if we’re going to deal lick our wounds and try to hang on. We’ve had a with the great challenges of our time, if we’re long and difficult debate on health care, and going to secure a better future just as past gen- there are some, maybe even the majority in this erations did for us, then we’re going to have to town, who say perhaps it’s time to walk away. change the prevailing politics in this town, and But here’s the thing, Democrats, if we walk it’s not going to be easy. We’re going to have to away, we know what will happen. We know that care less about scoring points and more about premiums and out-of-pocket expenses will sky- solving problems that are holding us back. At rocket this decade, and the decade after that, this defining moment, that’s never been more and the decade after that, just as they did in the important. past decade. More small businesses will be We can continue, for example, to be con- priced out of coverage, more big businesses will sumed by the politics of energy. But we know be unable to compete internationally, more that the nation that leads the clean energy revo- workers will take home less pay and fewer rais- lution will lead the 21st-century global econo- es. We know that millions more Americans will my. We know that a failure to act will put our lose their coverage. We know that our deficits planet in deeper peril. We know that China isn’t will inexorably continue to grow because health waiting and India isn’t waiting and Germany care costs are the single biggest driver. isn’t waiting to seize that future, and America So just in case there’s any confusion out can’t afford to wait either. And I don’t intend to there, let me be clear: I am not going to walk spend all my time taking polls to figure out away from health insurance reform. I’m not go- whether we’re going to seize that future or not. ing to walk away from the American people. I’m We can continue to spin our wheels with the not going to walk away on this challenge. I’m old education debates, pitting teachers unions not going to walk away on any challenge. We’re against reformers, and meanwhile, our kids moving forward. We are moving forward. keep trailing their counterparts from South Ko- Sometimes we may be moving forward against rea to Singapore. But we know that the coun- the prevailing winds. Sometimes it may be tries that outeducate us today will outcompete against a blizzard. [Laughter] But we’re going us tomorrow. We know that kids who are con- to live up to our responsibility to lead. signed to failing schools today will be con- And I’m confident that if we stay steady, if demned to lifetimes of lower wages and unful- we stay focused on all the people that we meet filled dreams. America can’t afford to wait. And each and every day who are out there strug-

183 Feb. 6 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2010 gling, if we’ve got them in mind and we are people and our ideas to solve them. It was working to deliver on their behalf, that in the good for the country to see a robust debate. I end that’ll be good politics as well as good pol- had fun. [Laughter] icy. It’ll be good for America, not just good for And we have to acknowledge there are go- Democrats. ing to be some issues that Democrats and Re- But in order to get any of these battles publicans just don’t see eye to eye on, and done, we’re going to have to change the way that’s how it should be. That’s how our democ- that Washington works. Now, we may not get a racy works. But there have to be some issues lot of attention for it, but we’ve actually al- on which we can find some common ground. ready begun to do that. We’ve reined in the It’s one thing to disagree out of principle; it’s power of the special interests with the tough- another to simply stand in the way because of est ethics and transparency rules of any admin- politics. istration in the modern era. We’re the first Now is not the time for sitting on the side- White House ever to post our visitors online. lines or blocking progress or pointing figures We’ve excluded lobbyists from policymaking or assigning blame. Now is not the time to do jobs or seats on Federal boards and commis- just what’s right for your party or your poll sions. I’ve called on Congress to make all ear- numbers. Now is the time to do what’s right mark requests public on one central web site for the country. Now is the time to do what’s before they come up for a vote, so that you necessary to see us through these difficult know how the money is spent. We times. Now is the time to do everything in our have—we’re going to have to confront the power to keep the American Dream alive for gaping loophole that the Supreme Court re- the next generation. And that’s our mission, cently opened in our campaign finance laws Democrats. that allows special interests to spend without I know we’ve gone through a tough year, limit to influence American elections. but we’ve gone through tougher years. We’re We also said that as we worked to change the party of Thomas Jefferson, who declared the ways of Washington, we’d also change the that all men are created equal. And we had to way we do things as a party. This committee is work long and hard to ensure that those words the first to ban contributions from political ac- meant something. tion committees and lobbyists. And I’m We’re the party of Franklin Roosevelt, who, pleased to see the recommendations submit- in the midst of depression, said all we had to ted by the Change Commission aimed at im- fear was fear itself, who saved freedom and de- proving our nominating process, because I be- mocracy from being extinguished here on lieve that the more Americans that get in- Earth. And that was hard because the natural volved in this party, the stronger this party will impulse was to fear. But we as a party helped be. to lead the country out of that fear. And yes, we need to change the way we We’re the party of John F. Kennedy, who work with the other party as well. Now, I’m summoned us to serve, who called us to pay proud to be a Democrat. I’m proud to be a any price and bear any burden. leader of this great party. But I also know that And we’re the party of Edward M. Kenne- we can’t solve all of our problems alone. So we dy, whose cause endures; who said that here, need to extend our hands to the other side. in the United States of America, the promise We’ve been working on it—[laughter]—be- of health care should not be a privilege, but a cause if we’re going to change the ways of fundamental right. Washington, we’re going to have to change its That is who we are, Democrats. That’s who tone. we’ve got to be today. For all the stories we’ve Now, as a step in that direction, I went and heard, after all the campaigns we’ve waged, af- visited with the House Republican caucus last ter all the promises we’ve made, this is our Friday. [Laughter] And we had a good discus- best chance to deliver change that the Ameri- sion about the challenges facing the American can people need.

184 Administration of Barack Obama, 2010 / Feb. 9

And if we do that, if we speak to the hopes of this country forward and secures the American the American people instead of their fears, if we Dream for another generation. inspire them instead of divide them, if we re- Thanks very much, everybody. God bless spond to their challenges with the same sense of you. urgency they feel in their own lives, we’re not just going to win elections—elections will take NOTE: The President spoke at 10:26 a.m. at the care of themselves—we will once again be the Capital Hilton hotel. In his remarks, he re- party that turns around the economy and moves ferred to Timothy M. Kaine, chairman, Demo- cratic National Committee.

Statement on the Death of Representative John P. Murtha, Jr. February 8, 2010

Michelle and I were deeply saddened today nam war combat veteran elected to Congress. to hear about the passing of Congressman John Jack’s tough-as-nails reputation carried over to Murtha. Jack was a devoted husband, a loving Congress, where he became a respected voice father, and a steadfast advocate for the people on issues of national security. of Pennsylvania for nearly 40 years. His passion Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife of for service was born during his decorated career nearly 55 years, Joyce, their three children, and in the United States Marine Corps, and he went the entire Murtha family. on to earn the distinction of being the first Viet-

Joint Statement by the United States of America and the European Union Calling on the Iranian Government to Fulfill Its Human Rights Obligations February 8, 2010

The United States and the European Union ther violence and repression during the coming condemn the continuing human rights viola- days, especially around the anniversary of the tions in Iran since the June 12 election. The Islamic Republic’s founding on 11 February. large scale detentions and mass trials, the We call on the Government of Iran to live up to threatened execution of protestors, the intimi- its international human rights obligations, to dation of family members of those detained and end its abuses against its own people, to hold the continuing denial to its citizens of the right accountable those who have committed the to peaceful expression are contrary to human abuses and to release those who are exercising rights norms. their rights. Our concerns are based on our commitment to universal respect for human rights. We are NOTE: An original was not available for verifica- particularly concerned by the potential for fur- tion of the content of this joint statement.

Remarks on Signing a Memorandum Establishing a Task Force on Childhood Obesity February 9, 2010

The President. Good morning, everybody. I gent health issues that we face in this country, am so proud of the work that the First Lady, and that is the increase in childhood obesity. along with the Cabinet Secretaries behind me, And because of the outstanding planning that have done in trying to tackle one of the most ur- they’ve done, they are going to be rolling out a

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