July 17 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2012 approach to our deficits and debt that says ev- And the reason I’m optimistic is because what erybody does their fair share. the American people showed me in 2008 is And that was my commitment even before I that when they determine what is true and ran for office and that we’ve fought for the last what is right and they come together, it doesn’t 3½ years—we’ve got a long way to go. There matter how much money the special interests are still way too many people who are out of spend, it doesn’t matter how many television work, too many homes that are still underwater ads are run, ultimately—[inaudible]. across the country, too many small businesses And I think one of the great privileges of be- that are struggling. ing President is as I travel around the country But in addition to making sure that we and meet people from all walks of life—every didn’t fall into a Great Depression, we’ve tried race, every region, every faith—there’s a core to systematically—whether it’s the health care decency to the American people, a basic good- bill, whether it’s our approach to expanding ac- ness and grit and determination of the Ameri- cess to college education for young people, can people, that gives me great confidence whether it is putting in place rules and regula- about our future. tions to protect from the kind of chaos of Wall So I just want to say to all of you, thank you Street that we saw in 2007, 2008—everything for your extraordinary support. Again, thanks we’ve done has been designed to fulfill that to the Watts family for hosting us. And I guar- goal of making sure that we’re building a antee, if all of you stay with me and keep on strong middle class and we’re continuing to working hard for the next 4 months, then I’m create avenues of opportunity for those who going to have the next—another 4 years to do are working hard to get into the middle class. the work that needs to be done. Now, this is going to be a close election. I Thank you. don’t think there’s any doubt about that, not because the other side has particularly new or NOTE: The President spoke at 2:19 p.m. at the interesting ideas, but because the economy is residence of Mikal and Tammy Watts. In his still struggling for a lot of folks. And as a conse- remarks, he referred to Republican Presiden- quence, your help, your support is going to be tial candidate former Gov. W. Mitt Romney of critical. But I’m optimistic about our prospects Massachusetts. Audio was not available for ver- of being able to finish what we started in 2008. ification of the content of these remarks. Remarks at a Campaign Rally in Austin, Texas July 17, 2012 The President. Hello, Texas! It is good to be And thanks to all of you for being here. I am back in Austin, Texas! Yeah. It’s good to be excited to be back. back. Love Austin, Texas. How’s everybody do- Audience member. I love you! ing today? The President. I love you back. I do. Couple of people I want to acknowledge. Now, Texas, let me tell you, this is my last First of all, your fine mayor of this fine city, campaign. Audience members. Aww! Lee Leffingwell is here. We’ve got an out-of- The President. No, it’s true. Unless I move town guest who is doing outstanding work in down here to Austin—maybe I—[applause]— another part of Texas, the mayor of Houston, run for dogcatcher down here or something. Annise Parker is here. Somebody who is fight- [Laughter] This is most likely my last cam- ing on behalf of working people every single paign, win or lose. And it makes you—— day, Congressman Lloyd Doggett is here. And Audience members. Win! give it up for the outstanding entertainment The President. And it makes you nostalgic provided by Jerry Jeff Walker. about your first campaign and the first few 1040 Administration of Barack Obama, 2012 / July 17 campaigns I ran back in my home State of Illi- him, he could barely walk. He had to use two nois—— canes. And he had to wake up an hour early ev- Audience members. Whoo! ery morning, earlier than everybody else, to The President. [Laughter] Illinois in the get—just to get dressed. And he worked at a house! water filtration plant, a blue-collar job, and Mi- Now, back then, understand, I did not have chelle’s mom stayed at home until they were a Air Force One. [Laughter] I didn’t have Ma- little older, and then she went to work as a sec- rine One. I didn’t have the Beast driving me retary. And they never had a lot, and yet be- around. I drove myself around. And Illinois is a cause of the love and the values that were in big State, so we’d—I’d go up and down—I’d that household, Michelle and her brother were usually have one staff person with me; a lot of able to get an unbelievable education and go as times, I’d be the one driving. And we didn’t far as their dreams would take them. even have MapQuest back then, so you had to And I’d hear these same kinds of stories ev- unfold the map—[laughter]—and try to figure erywhere I went. And it reminded me that out how it folds back, and we’d get lost, and— what makes America so exceptional, what but when I think back to those times, those makes us so special, is this basic bargain, this early campaigns, we’d travel to inner-city basic idea that in this country, no matter what communities and rural communities and sub- you look like, no matter where you come from, urban communities, and you’d meet folks from no matter what your last name is, no matter every walk of life: Black, White, Hispanic, what setbacks you may experience, in this Asian, Native American, wealthy, low income. country, if you work hard, if you are willing to And what was fascinating was that every- take responsibility, then you can make it. You where you went, there was a common theme, a can get ahead. common thread. I’d see an elderly couple and That—for the overwhelming majority of I’d think about my grandparents: my grandfa- Americans, that effort means that you can find ther, who fought in World War II, and my a job that supports a family. And it means that grandmother, who worked on a bomber assem- you can maybe get a home that you call your bly line while he was gone. And when he came own and you can send your kids to a good back, he was able to get a college education on school and not go bankrupt when you get sick, the GI bill, and they were able to buy a home take a vacation once in a while, nothing fancy. with the help of an FHA loan. And I’d think The—I was telling some folks up in Ohio about about the journey they traveled and how re- my favorite vacation when I was a kid was markable that was and how that represented all when I was 11, driving around the country and that the greatest generation had done. traveling around the country with my mom and And then I’d meet a single mom somewhere my sister and my grandma. And most of the and I’d think about my mom, who basically time we took Greyhound buses and stayed at raised me and my sister on her own because Howard Johnsons. And if there was any kind of my father left, and how she had to struggle to little swimming pool anywhere, I was happy. work while she was putting herself through [Laughter] And a big event was going to the school and still keep us on track. And yet she vending machine and buying a soda and then was—because of the help of scholarships and filling the ice bucket and carrying it back. grants—able to get her education and then [Laughter] That was a big deal. But the point give me and my sister the best education in the was you didn’t do it—it wasn’t a luxury, it was world. And I thought about how that couldn’t just the chance to have a little adventure with happen probably in most places around the your family. world. And then, part of that bargain was that you And then I’d meet a working couple some- could retire with dignity and respect at the end where and I’d think about Michelle’s parents. of a life and that you knew that your kids could Michelle’s dad had MS, so by the time I met achieve more than you did, that their lives 1041 July 17 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2012 would offer opportunities you couldn’t even down, that basic character of America does not imagine. And that bargain, that idea of who we change. Who we are does not change. What we are as a people, that’s what built this country. believe, the values we hold dear, the impor- That’s what made us into an economic super- tance we place on hard work and that work be- power, this idea that anybody could make it.