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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPresident Obama Addresses Iowa Democrats
OBAMA: Hello, Iowa! How are you guys? I miss you all. And I understand that it's actually warmer tonight than it was four years ago, which means, I'm sure, great turnout at the caucuses.
You know, on the ride over here I was reminiscing with David Plouffe. He was showing me actually an old advertisement from Iowa -- in fact, the last advertisement we did in the Iowa campaign. And other than pointing out how much more gray I am and how much older I look now than I did then, we actually were just remembering the incredible energy and excitement and the spirit of common purpose that those Iowa caucuses represent. It was an example of how the campaign was not about one person, but it was about all of us coming together to try to deliver the kind of change that had been talked about a long time in Washington, but all too often hadnt been delivered on.
And it's because of you that I had this extraordinary honor over the last three years of working to try to deliver on that change. And obviously we didnt know at the time how severe the economic crisis was going to be. We didnt fully appreciate at the time the worldwide magnitude of the financial crisis. But we knew even then that the middle class had been taking it for a long time -- folks who had been trying to get into the middle class had found that the ladders that allowed for upward mobility had started to disintegrate for a lot of people.
And so we understood that what we were fighting for was an America where everybody had a fair shot, everybody did their fair share; that responsibility was rewarded and that the game wasnt fixed, that it wasnt rigged, and that if people did the right thing and worked hard, as so many families who in Iowa and throughout the country -- that they were going to be able to live out a piece of the American Dream.
We've still got a lot of work to do. But think about the change that was accomplished because of those caucuses four years ago. Because of those caucuses four years ago, we ended the war in Iraq, as promised, and our troops are now coming home.
Because of the work that so many of you did even before the caucuses four years ago, health care is a reality for millions of Americans, and seniors have seen the price of prescription drugs lowered, and there are 2 million young Americans who are able to keep their insurance even if they're not getting it through a job. And we're going to be able to say to every American out there who's got a preexisting condition or has gotten a raw deal from an insurance company that they're going to have some meaningful security, they're not going to be bankrupt if they get sick.
Because of you and the work that you did four years ago there are millions of young people all across the country who are able to get more affordable student loans and Pell Grants. They're able to afford college and apply themselves so that they can achieve a meaningful career that pays a good wage and provides good benefits.
Because of you we've been able to end the policy of "don't ask, don't tell" so that every American who wants to serve this country that they love have that opportunity regardless of who they love.
So across the board, whether its doubling fuel efficiency standards on cars, or making sure that weve got a more effective system to provide job training for people whove lost their jobs -- across the board, you have made a difference. But we all know weve got a lot more work that we have to do.
Although weve passed health care reform, weve passed Wall Street reform, there are a lot of forces that want to push back against us and want to undo some of those changes. And were battling millions of dollars of negative advertising and lobbyists and special interests who don't want to see the change that you worked so hard to fully take root. And that's why this time out is going to be in some ways more important than the first time out. Mitch is right. Change is never easy. The problems that weve been dealing with over the last three years, they didn't happen overnight and were not going to fix them overnight. But weve been making steady progress as long as we can sustain it. And that's what this is going to be all about.
So the only way were going to be able to do that is if all of you maintain the same determination, the same energy, the same drive, the same hopefulness, the same optimism about this wonderful country of ours as was on display four years ago. And I want you to know that because of you, because of all the memories I have of being in your living rooms or meeting you in a diner or seeing you over at a campaign office, I have never lost that same source of inspiration that drove me to embark on this journey in the first place. You guys inspire me every single day.
And I want us to remind each other that as much work as there may be out there before us, theres nothing we can't accomplish when determined citizens come together to make a difference.
So thank you, everybody. I could not be prouder. And, Mitch, I think weve got a couple of -- time for a couple questions.
MR. STEWART: Yes, we do, sir. And the first question comes out of Coralville. Coralville, can you hear us?
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Good evening, Mr. President. Im Roseann, and Im here as you can see, at a full house in the beautiful Performing Arts Center in Coralville, Iowa. How are you tonight?
OBAMA:: Im doing well. How are you?
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Well, Mr. President, I think were having a little difficulty with audio, but Im going to go ahead with my question.
Thinking about the caucuses four years ago, and as you reflected, you delivered your message of hope and change, but we didnt know in 2008 the extent of the problems we were facing, and certainly progress has been a challenge. So Im wondering, now, in 2012, if you still believe in hope and change for America. And Im also wondering how your reelection campaign is going to help us better understand what we need to do, both as individual citizens and as a country, to achieve the fair society that you spoke about recently in Osawatomie, Kansas.
OBAMA: Well, first of all, I want to make sure you can hear my answer. Hows the sound coming through now? In some ways, Im actually more optimistic now than I was when I first ran, because weve already seen change take place. And part of what 2012 is about is both reminding the American people of how far weve traveled and the concrete effects that some of our work has had in terms of making sure that people have health insurance, or making sure that our troops are coming home, or making sure that young people are able to go to college. But part of it is also framing this larger debate about what kind of country are we going to leave for our children and our grandchildren.
There is no problem that we face that we cannot solve. But in order to solve it, weve got to make sure that everybody gets a fair shot, and that means that were investing in things like education, that were investing in basic science and technology so were making things again here in America and were revitalizing manufacturing and were not just buying from other countries but were selling to other countries, and were inventing things and encouraging entrepreneurship. It means that were rebuilding our infrastructure, our roads and our bridges, but also our high-speed rail lines and high-speed Internet access in places like rural Iowa, making sure that everybody who wants to reach a worldwide market is able to do so because theyve got the connection to do it.
It also means that those things are going to have to be paid for in a fair way. And obviously a lot of the debate in Washington over the last several months and over the last year has revolved around how do we create a government that is lean and efficient and effective. And Im proud of some of the tough decisions that weve been willing to make in terms of pruning back programs that dont work. But if were going to make the investments that we need for our kids at the same time as were controlling our deficit, then theres nothing wrong with saying to millionaires and billionaires that were going to let your tax cuts expire. You can afford it. Youve done very well in this society. And I know they want (inaudible) in America, but they have to be asked. And the other party has a fundamentally different philosophy.
The same is true when it comes to the issue of fair play. We, through Wall Street reform, have rolled back policies that allowed credit card companies to jack up your interest rates without alerting you to it, or other financial practices that disadvantage consumers.
And so weve said, you know what, were going to have a consumer watchdog in place to look after you, to make sure that youre not being cheated on credit cards or mortgages. Because if you want to compete in a free market, then you should compete on the basis of price and service and quality, not on the basis of somebody not being able to understand what theyre buying.
These basic principles are whats going to be at stake in order for us to succeed. And I think that theyre principles that most Americans believe in, that everybody should act responsibly, everybody should do their part, and everybody should be able to travel as far as their work ethic and their dreams will carry them.
And right now all were getting from the other side -- you guys have been hearing it a lot more than I have. I know its -- youve been bombarded -- I dont know how you watch TV in Iowa these days -- with a different theory that says, were going to cut taxes for the wealthiest among us, and roll back regulations on things like clean air and health care reform and Wall Street reform, and that somehow, automatically, that assures that everybody is able to succeed. I don't believe that. And I don't think any of the people in that auditorium do either.
So its going to be a big battle, though. I hope you guys are geared up. Im excited.
MR. STEWART: Great. Thank you very much, Coralville. Next, we have Cedar Rapids. Cedar Rapids, are you with us? Can you hear us, Cedar Rapids? Hello, Cedar Rapids, can you hear us?
OBAMA: Hold on one second.
MR. STEWART: Yes, hold on one second.
OBAMA: I cant hear you yet.
MR. STEWART: Well give it five more seconds. Folks in Cedar Rapids, can you hear us? (Applause.)
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Good evening, Mr. President. This is Carol from Cedar Rapids, and Im honored to be among your volunteers. On the cable talk shows there is talk about your administration not accomplishing anything. However, I am a breast cancer survivor and was a social worker for 33 years before retiring, and know firsthand what a great accomplishment the Affordable Care Act is among your other achievements. How do you respond to people who say you have not done enough?
OBAMA: I think the main message that were going to have in 2012 is that weve done a lot but weve got a lot more to do, and thats why we need another four years to get it all done. But you just mentioned the Affordable Care Act. We know that somebody whos had an illness like cancer, whos a survivor, has trouble getting insurance. Because of the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are not going to be able to ban people with preexisting conditions. That makes a direct impact on your life and your familys life.
We know that there are 2 million young people who have insurance because of the Affordable Care Act who didn't have it before. We know that seniors have seen discounts in their prescription drugs; theyre saving billions of dollars all across the country. We know that preventive care, like mammograms, are now available through your insurance and they cant arbitrarily deny you coverage right when you need care.
So thats just on health care. And its making an impact on peoples lives day to day. But heres the thing. Frankly, not that many people watch cable TV. What they do is they listen to their friends, their neighbors, their co-workers. And thats why what you guys are doing today at the caucus and what you will be doing every day from now until November makes such a difference. Because nobody is a better messenger for the kind of change were talking about than you. You can tell a story about the difference these policies make in your life in a way that any politician in Washington -- including me -- cant do.
And one of the things that we learned four years ago was that when people at grassroots level are getting involved and theyre getting engaged, and theyre feeling empowered and theyre joining hands with each other -- thats a powerful force. It cant be stopped. But, unfortunately, over the (inaudible) its not as focused and concentrated as an election campaign. And so the forces of big money and special interests and lobbyists, they all come to the fore and the pundits and the cable TV dominates the political conversation.
Well, you know what, fortunately in 2012 weve got a chance to respond. And I will put my money on you. I find you a lot more persuasive than anybody on cable TV, and thats why I know were going to win.
Thank you.
MR. STEWART: Great. Thank you very much, sir. We appreciate your time.
We appreciate Cedar Rapids. Were going to let you get back to the remainder of your caucuses, but before we go I'd be remiss if I didn't encourage everybody to sign up and volunteer. I think shortly after were done with the Adobe Connect session here there will be volunteer sign-up forms. This is a great opportunity, as the President said, to get out and engage your friends and neighbors whats at stake and why this election is so important.
So again, thank you all so much.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/obama-addresses-iowa-democrats-full-text-of-remarks/2012/01/03/gIQABCeOZP_blog.html
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President Obama Addresses Iowa Democrats (Original Post)
bigtree
Jan 2012
OP
rurallib
(62,411 posts)1. Thank you
Our feed cut out on us, so we lost about half in the middle.
bigtree
(85,996 posts)2. I heard it sputtered at parts
damned unfortunate . . . glad this catches you up