Obama: ‘Irish, Italians and Polish’ Faced Same Stereotypes Today’s Immigrants Do

RUSH TRANSCRIPT Ladies and ░░░░░░░░ please rise and welcome ░░░░░░░░ Chicago kid to sing ░░░░░░░░ national anthem O say ░░░░░░░░ you see by the ░░░░░░░░ s early light what ░░░░░░░░ proudly we hailed at ░░░░░░░░ twilight s last gleaming ░░░░░░░░ broad stripes and bright ░░░░░░░░ through the perilous fight ░░░░░░░░ er the ramparts we ░░░░░░░░ were so gallantly streaming ░░░░░░░░ the rockets red glare ░░░░░░░░ bombs bursting in air ░░░░░░░░ proof through the night ░░░░░░░░ our flag was still ░░░░░░░░ O say does that ░░░░░░░░ spangled banner yet wave ░░░░░░░░ er the land of ░░░░░░░░ free and the home ░░░░░░░░ the brave applause Ladies ░░░░░░░░ gentlemen please welcome the ░░░░░░░░ president of the United ░░░░░░░░ Applause Cheers Pres Obama ░░░░░░░░ Chicago It is good ░░░░░░░░ be home Thank you ░░░░░░░░ Thank you Cheers Pres ░░░░░░░░ Thank you so much ░░░░░░░░ you Cheers Pres Obama ░░░░░░░░ got it Applause Cheers ░░░░░░░░ Obama You can tell ░░░░░░░░ can tell you you ░░░░░░░░ tell that you can ░░░░░░░░ that I am a ░░░░░░░░ duck because nobody is ░░░░░░░░ instructions Laughter Pres Obama ░░░░░░░░ have a seat Cheers ░░░░░░░░ Obama My fellow Americans ░░░░░░░░ Pres Obama Michelle and ░░░░░░░░ have been so touched ░░░░░░░░ all the well wishes ░░░░░░░░ we have received over ░░░░░░░░ past few weeks but ░░░░░░░░ it is my turn ░░░░░░░░ say thanks Whether we ░░░░░░░░ seen eye to eye ░░░░░░░░ rarely agreed at all ░░░░░░░░ conversations with you the ░░░░░░░░ people in living rooms ░░░░░░░░ schools on farms on ░░░░░░░░ floors and diners and ░░░░░░░░ distant military outposts those ░░░░░░░░ I what have kept ░░░░░░░░ honest and kept me ░░░░░░░░ and kept me going ░░░░░░░░ every day I have ░░░░░░░░ from you You made ░░░░░░░░ a better president and ░░░░░░░░ made me a better ░░░░░░░░ So I first came ░░░░░░░░ Chicago when I was ░░░░░░░░ my early 20 s ░░░░░░░░ I was still time ░░░░░░░░ figure out who I ░░░░░░░░ still searching for a ░░░░░░░░ in my life And ░░░░░░░░ was the neighborhood not ░░░░░░░░ from here where I ░░░░░░░░ working with church groups ░░░░░░░░ the shadows of closed ░░░░░░░░ mills It was on ░░░░░░░░ streets where I witnessed ░░░░░░░░ power of faith and ░░░░░░░░ quiet dignity of working ░░░░░░░░ in the face of ░░░░░░░░ and loss Four more ░░░░░░░░ four more years Pres ░░░░░░░░ I can do that ░░░░░░░░ can t do that ░░░░░░░░ is where I learned ░░░░░░░░ change only happens when ░░░░░░░░ people get involved and ░░░░░░░░ engaged and they come ░░░░░░░░ to demand it After ░░░░░░░░ years as your president ░░░░░░░░ still believe that And ░░░░░░░░ is not just my ░░░░░░░░ it is the beating ░░░░░░░░ of our American ideal ░░░░░░░░ bold experiment in self ░░░░░░░░ It is a conviction ░░░░░░░░ we are all created ░░░░░░░░ endowed by our creator ░░░░░░░░ certain unalienable rights among ░░░░░░░░ life liberty and the ░░░░░░░░ of happiness It is ░░░░░░░░ insistence that these rights ░░░░░░░░ self evident have never ░░░░░░░░ self executed That we ░░░░░░░░ people through the instrument ░░░░░░░░ our democracy can form ░░░░░░░░ more perfect union What ░░░░░░░░ radical idea A great ░░░░░░░░ that our founders gave ░░░░░░░░ us The freedom to ░░░░░░░░ our individual dreams through ░░░░░░░░ sweat and toil and ░░░░░░░░ and the imperative to ░░░░░░░░ together as one to ░░░░░░░░ a common goal a ░░░░░░░░ goal For 240 years ░░░░░░░░ nation s called to ░░░░░░░░ has given work and ░░░░░░░░ to each new generation ░░░░░░░░ is what led patriots ░░░░░░░░ choose republic over tyranny ░░░░░░░░ to trek west slaves ░░░░░░░░ brave the makeshift railroad ░░░░░░░░ freedom It is what ░░░░░░░░ immigrants and refugees across ░░░░░░░░ and the Rio Grande ░░░░░░░░ is what pushed women ░░░░░░░░ reach It is what ░░░░░░░░ workers It is why ░░░░░░░░ gave their lives on ░░░░░░░░ beach and iwojima Iraq ░░░░░░░░ Afghanistan and why men ░░░░░░░░ women from Selma to ░░░░░░░░ were prepared to give ░░░░░░░░ as well So that ░░░░░░░░ what we mean when ░░░░░░░░ say America is exceptional ░░░░░░░░ that our nation has ░░░░░░░░ flawless from the start ░░░░░░░░ that we have shown ░░░░░░░░ capacity to change and ░░░░░░░░ life better for those ░░░░░░░░ follow Yes our progress ░░░░░░░░ been uneven A work ░░░░░░░░ democracy has always been ░░░░░░░░ it has always been ░░░░░░░░ Sometimes it has been ░░░░░░░░ For every two steps ░░░░░░░░ it often feels we ░░░░░░░░ one step back But ░░░░░░░░ long sweep of America ░░░░░░░░ been defined by forward ░░░░░░░░ a constant widening of ░░░░░░░░ founding creed to embrace ░░░░░░░░ and not just some ░░░░░░░░ Cheers Applause Pres Obama ░░░░░░░░ I had told you ░░░░░░░░ years ago that America ░░░░░░░░ reverse the great recession ░░░░░░░░ our auto industry and ░░░░░░░░ the longest stretch of ░░░░░░░░ creation in our history ░░░░░░░░ Pres Obama If I ░░░░░░░░ told you that we ░░░░░░░░ open up a new ░░░░░░░░ with the Cuban people ░░░░░░░░ Iran s nuclear weapons ░░░░░░░░ without firing a shot ░░░░░░░░ out the mastermind of ░░░░░░░░ 11 cheers Pres Obama ░░░░░░░░ I had told you ░░░░░░░░ we would win marriage ░░░░░░░░ and secure indiscernible Cheers ░░░░░░░░ Obama For another 20 ░░░░░░░░ of our fellow citizens ░░░░░░░░ I had told you ░░░░░░░░ that you might have ░░░░░░░░ our sights were set ░░░░░░░░ little too high Laughter ░░░░░░░░ Obama But that is ░░░░░░░░ we did Cheers Pres ░░░░░░░░ That is what you ░░░░░░░░ You were the change ░░░░░░░░ answer you answered people ░░░░░░░░ hopes and because of ░░░░░░░░ by almost every measure ░░░░░░░░ is a better stronger ░░░░░░░░ than it was when ░░░░░░░░ started Cheers Applause Pres ░░░░░░░░ In 10 days the ░░░░░░░░ will witness a hallmark ░░░░░░░░ our democracy Boos Pres ░░░░░░░░ No no no The ░░░░░░░░ transfer of power from ░░░░░░░░ freely elected president to ░░░░░░░░ next Applause Pres Obama ░░░░░░░░ committed to president elect ░░░░░░░░ Trump that my administration ░░░░░░░░ ensure the smoothest possible ░░░░░░░░ just as President Bush ░░░░░░░░ for me Applause Pres ░░░░░░░░ Because it is up ░░░░░░░░ all of us to ░░░░░░░░ sure our government can ░░░░░░░░ us meet the many ░░░░░░░░ we still face We ░░░░░░░░ what we need to ░░░░░░░░ so We have everything ░░░░░░░░ need to meet those ░░░░░░░░ After all we remain ░░░░░░░░ wealthiest most powerful and ░░░░░░░░ respected nation on Earth ░░░░░░░░ youth our drive our ░░░░░░░░ and ultimately our boundless ░░░░░░░░ for risk and reinvention ░░░░░░░░ that the future should ░░░░░░░░ hours Ours But that ░░░░░░░░ will only be realized ░░░░░░░░ our democracy works only ░░░░░░░░ our politics better reflects ░░░░░░░░ deeper feeling of our ░░░░░░░░ Applause Pres Obama Only ░░░░░░░░ all of us regardless ░░░░░░░░ party affiliation or particular ░░░░░░░░ help restore the sense ░░░░░░░░ common purpose that we ░░░░░░░░ badly needs right now ░░░░░░░░ is what I want ░░░░░░░░ focus on tonight the ░░░░░░░░ of our democracy Understand ░░░░░░░░ does not require uniformity ░░░░░░░░ founders argued and eventually ░░░░░░░░ compromised They expect us ░░░░░░░░ do the same But ░░░░░░░░ knew that democracy does ░░░░░░░░ a basic sense of ░░░░░░░░ The idea that for ░░░░░░░░ our outward differences we ░░░░░░░░ all in this together ░░░░░░░░ we rise or fall ░░░░░░░░ one Applause Pres Obama ░░░░░░░░ have been moments throughout ░░░░░░░░ history that threatened that ░░░░░░░░ At the beginning of ░░░░░░░░ century and the beginning ░░░░░░░░ this century has been ░░░░░░░░ of those times A ░░░░░░░░ world growing inequality demographic ░░░░░░░░ and the specter of ░░░░░░░░ These forces have not ░░░░░░░░ tested our security and ░░░░░░░░ but are testing our ░░░░░░░░ as well And how ░░░░░░░░ meet these challenges tower ░░░░░░░░ will determine our ability ░░░░░░░░ educate our kids and ░░░░░░░░ good jobs and protect ░░░░░░░░ homeland In other words ░░░░░░░░ will determine our future ░░░░░░░░ begin with our democracy ░░░░░░░░ t work without a ░░░░░░░░ that everyone has economic ░░░░░░░░ The good news is ░░░░░░░░ today the economy is ░░░░░░░░ again Wages incomes home ░░░░░░░░ and retirement accounts are ░░░░░░░░ rising Poverty is falling ░░░░░░░░ Applause Pres Obama The ░░░░░░░░ are paying a fair ░░░░░░░░ of taxes even as ░░░░░░░░ stock market shatters records ░░░░░░░░ unemployment rate is near ░░░░░░░░ 10 year low The ░░░░░░░░ rate has never ever ░░░░░░░░ lower Cheers Applause Pres ░░░░░░░░ Health care costs are ░░░░░░░░ at the slowest rate ░░░░░░░░ 50 years and I ░░░░░░░░ said and I mean ░░░░░░░░ if anyone can put ░░░░░░░░ a plan that is ░░░░░░░░ better then the improvements ░░░░░░░░ made to the health ░░░░░░░░ system that covers as ░░░░░░░░ people at less cost ░░░░░░░░ will publicly supported Publicly ░░░░░░░░ it Applause Pres Obama ░░░░░░░░ that after all is ░░░░░░░░ we serve Not to ░░░░░░░░ points or take credit ░░░░░░░░ to make people s ░░░░░░░░ better But for all ░░░░░░░░ real progress that we ░░░░░░░░ made we know it ░░░░░░░░ not enough Our economy ░░░░░░░░ not work as well ░░░░░░░░ grow as fast when ░░░░░░░░ prosper at the expense ░░░░░░░░ a growing middle class ░░░░░░░░ ladders for folks who ░░░░░░░░ to get into the ░░░░░░░░ class That is the ░░░░░░░░ argument but stark inequality ░░░░░░░░ also corrosive to our ░░░░░░░░ idea While the top ░░░░░░░░ has amassed a bigger ░░░░░░░░ of wealth and income ░░░░░░░░ inner cities and rural ░░░░░░░░ people have been left ░░░░░░░░ The laid off factory ░░░░░░░░ the health care worker ░░░░░░░░ is barely getting by ░░░░░░░░ struggling to pay the ░░░░░░░░ convinced the game is ░░░░░░░░ against them that the ░░░░░░░░ only serves the powerful ░░░░░░░░ is a recipe for ░░░░░░░░ cynicism and polarization in ░░░░░░░░ politics There are no ░░░░░░░░ fixes to this long ░░░░░░░░ trend I agree our ░░░░░░░░ should be fair and ░░░░░░░░ just free But the ░░░░░░░░ wave of economic dislocations ░░░░░░░░ t come from overseas ░░░░░░░░ will come from the ░░░░░░░░ pace of automation that ░░░░░░░░ a lot of good ░░░░░░░░ class jobs obsolete So ░░░░░░░░ are going to have ░░░░░░░░ forge a new social ░░░░░░░░ to guarantee all our ░░░░░░░░ the education they need ░░░░░░░░ give workers the power ░░░░░░░░ unionize for better wages ░░░░░░░░ update the social safety ░░░░░░░░ to reflect the way ░░░░░░░░ live now and make ░░░░░░░░ reforms to the tax ░░░░░░░░ so corporations and individuals ░░░░░░░░ reap the most from ░░░░░░░░ new economy don t ░░░░░░░░ their obligations to the ░░░░░░░░ that has made their ░░░░░░░░ possible Applause Pres Obama ░░░░░░░░ can argue about how ░░░░░░░░ best achieve these goals ░░░░░░░░ we can t be ░░░░░░░░ about the goals themselves ░░░░░░░░ if we don t ░░░░░░░░ opportunity for all people ░░░░░░░░ disaffection and division that ░░░░░░░░ stalled our progress will ░░░░░░░░ sharpen in years to ░░░░░░░░ There is a second ░░░░░░░░ to our democracy and ░░░░░░░░ one is as old ░░░░░░░░ our nation itself After ░░░░░░░░ lection there was talk ░░░░░░░░ a post racial America ░░░░░░░░ a vision however well ░░░░░░░░ was never realistic Race ░░░░░░░░ a potent and often ░░░░░░░░ force in our society ░░░░░░░░ have lived long enough ░░░░░░░░ know that race relations ░░░░░░░░ better than they were ░░░░░░░░ or 20 or 30 ░░░░░░░░ ago no matter what ░░░░░░░░ folks say Applause Pres ░░░░░░░░ You can see it ░░░░░░░░ just in statistics you ░░░░░░░░ it in the attitudes ░░░░░░░░ young Americans across the ░░░░░░░░ spectrum But we are ░░░░░░░░ where we need to ░░░░░░░░ and all of us ░░░░░░░░ more work to do ░░░░░░░░ Pres Obama If every ░░░░░░░░ issue is framed as ░░░░░░░░ struggle between a hard ░░░░░░░░ white middle class and ░░░░░░░░ undeserving minority then workers ░░░░░░░░ all shades are going ░░░░░░░░ be left fighting for ░░░░░░░░ while the wealthy withdraw ░░░░░░░░ Applause Pres Obama If ░░░░░░░░ are unwilling to invest ░░░░░░░░ the children of immigrants ░░░░░░░░ they don t look ░░░░░░░░ us we will diminish ░░░░░░░░ prospects of our own ░░░░░░░░ because those brown kids ░░░░░░░░ represent a larger and ░░░░░░░░ share of America s ░░░░░░░░ Applause Pres Obama And ░░░░░░░░ have shown that our ░░░░░░░░ does not have to ░░░░░░░░ a zero sum game ░░░░░░░░ year incomes rose for ░░░░░░░░ races all age groups ░░░░░░░░ men and for women ░░░░░░░░ we are going to ░░░░░░░░ serious about race going ░░░░░░░░ we need to uphold ░░░░░░░░ against discrimination in hiring ░░░░░░░░ housing and education and ░░░░░░░░ justice And criminal justice ░░░░░░░░ is what our constitution ░░░░░░░░ our highest ideals require ░░░░░░░░ laws alone won t ░░░░░░░░ enough Hearts must change ░░░░░░░░ won t change overnight ░░░░░░░░ attitudes oftentimes take generations ░░░░░░░░ change but if our ░░░░░░░░ is to work the ░░░░░░░░ it should in this ░░░░░░░░ diverse nation then each ░░░░░░░░ of us need to ░░░░░░░░ to heed the advice ░░░░░░░░ the great character in ░░░░░░░░ fiction Atticus finch who ░░░░░░░░ you never really understand ░░░░░░░░ person until you consider ░░░░░░░░ from his point of ░░░░░░░░ until you climb into ░░░░░░░░ skin and walk around ░░░░░░░░ it For blacks and ░░░░░░░░ minority groups that means ░░░░░░░░ our own very real ░░░░░░░░ for justice to the ░░░░░░░░ that a lot of ░░░░░░░░ in this country face ░░░░░░░░ only the refugees or ░░░░░░░░ or rural poor or ░░░░░░░░ Americans but also the ░░░░░░░░ aged white guy who ░░░░░░░░ the outside may seem ░░░░░░░░ he has got advantages ░░░░░░░░ has seen his world ░░░░░░░░ by economic cultural and ░░░░░░░░ change We have to ░░░░░░░░ attention and listen Applause ░░░░░░░░ Obama For white Americans ░░░░░░░░ means acknowledging that the ░░░░░░░░ of slavery and Jim ░░░░░░░░ did not suddenly vanish ░░░░░░░░ the 60 s Applause ░░░░░░░░ Obama That when minority ░░░░░░░░ voiced discontent they are ░░░░░░░░ just engaging in reverse ░░░░░░░░ or practicing clinical correctness ░░░░░░░░ political correctness They are ░░░░░░░░ demanding special treatment but ░░░░░░░░ equal treatment that our ░░░░░░░░ promised But the equal ░░░░░░░░ that our founders promised ░░░░░░░░ Pres Obama For nativeborn ░░░░░░░░ it means reminding ourselves ░░░░░░░░ the stereotypes about immigrants ░░░░░░░░ were said almost word ░░░░░░░░ word about the Irish ░░░░░░░░ Italians and poles who ░░░░░░░░ was said were going ░░░░░░░░ destroy the fundamental character ░░░░░░░░ America As it turned ░░░░░░░░ America was not weekend ░░░░░░░░ by these newcomers They ░░░░░░░░ the nation s creed ░░░░░░░░ the nation was strengthened ░░░░░░░░ Pres Obama Regardless of ░░░░░░░░ station we occupy we ░░░░░░░░ have to try harder ░░░░░░░░ all have to start ░░░░░░░░ the premise that each ░░░░░░░░ our fellow citizens loves ░░░░░░░░ country just as much ░░░░░░░░ we do that they ░░░░░░░░ hard work and family ░░░░░░░░ like we do that ░░░░░░░░ children are just as ░░░░░░░░ and hopeful and worthy ░░░░░░░░ love as our own ░░░░░░░░ Pres Obama And that ░░░░░░░░ not easy to do ░░░░░░░░ too many of us ░░░░░░░░ has become safer to ░░░░░░░░ into our own bubbles ░░░░░░░░ in our neighborhoods or ░░░░░░░░ college campuses or places ░░░░░░░░ worship or especially our ░░░░░░░░ media feeds Surrounded by ░░░░░░░░ who look like us ░░░░░░░░ share the same political ░░░░░░░░ and never challenge ours ░░░░░░░░ our assumptions In the ░░░░░░░░ of naked partisanship and ░░░░░░░░ regional and economic stratification ░░░░░░░░ splitting of our media ░░░░░░░░ a channel for every ░░░░░░░░ all of this makes ░░░░░░░░ great sorting seem natural ░░░░░░░░ inevitable Increasingly we become ░░░░░░░░ secure in our bubbles ░░░░░░░░ we start excepting only ░░░░░░░░ whether it is true ░░░░░░░░ not that fits our ░░░░░░░░ instead of basing our ░░░░░░░░ on the evidence that ░░░░░░░░ out there Applause Pres ░░░░░░░░ This trend represents a ░░░░░░░░ threat to our democracy ░░░░░░░░ politics is a battle ░░░░░░░░ ideas That is how ░░░░░░░░ democracy was designed In ░░░░░░░░ course of a healthy ░░░░░░░░ we prioritize different goals ░░░░░░░░ different means of reaching ░░░░░░░░ But without some common ░░░░░░░░ effects without a willingness ░░░░░░░░ admit new information and ░░░░░░░░ that your opponent might ░░░░░░░░ making a fair point ░░░░░░░░ that science and reason ░░░░░░░░ then we are going ░░░░░░░░ keep falling back It ░░░░░░░░ make common ground and ░░░░░░░░ impossible Applause Pres Obama ░░░░░░░░ t that part of ░░░░░░░░ so often makes politics ░░░░░░░░ How can elected officials ░░░░░░░░ about deficits when we ░░░░░░░░ to spend money on ░░░░░░░░ for kids but not ░░░░░░░░ taxes for corporations How ░░░░░░░░ we excuse lapses in ░░░░░░░░ own party but counts ░░░░░░░░ the other party does ░░░░░░░░ same thing but pounce ░░░░░░░░ the other party does ░░░░░░░░ same thing It is ░░░░░░░░ just as honest this ░░░░░░░░ sorting of facts it ░░░░░░░░ self defeating As my ░░░░░░░░ used to tell me ░░░░░░░░ has a way of ░░░░░░░░ up with you Applause ░░░░░░░░ Obama Take the challenge ░░░░░░░░ climate change In just ░░░░░░░░ years we have have ░░░░░░░░ dependence on foreign oil ░░░░░░░░ renewable energy led the ░░░░░░░░ world to an agreement ░░░░░░░░ has the potential to ░░░░░░░░ this planet Applause Pres ░░░░░░░░ But without bolder actions ░░░░░░░░ children won t have ░░░░░░░░ to debate the existence ░░░░░░░░ climate change They will ░░░░░░░░ busy dealing with its ░░░░░░░░ more environmental disasters economic ░░░░░░░░ climate refugees seeking sanctuary ░░░░░░░░ can and should argue ░░░░░░░░ the best approach to ░░░░░░░░ the problem But to ░░░░░░░░ deny the problem not ░░░░░░░░ betrays future generations it ░░░░░░░░ the essential spirit of ░░░░░░░░ country the essential spirit ░░░░░░░░ innovation and practical problem ░░░░░░░░ that guided our founders ░░░░░░░░ Pres Obama It is ░░░░░░░░ spirit born of the ░░░░░░░░ that made us an ░░░░░░░░ powerhouse The spirit that ░░░░░░░░ flight at kitty hawk ░░░░░░░░ cape canaveral the spirit ░░░░░░░░ cures disease and put ░░░░░░░░ computer in every pocket ░░░░░░░░ is that spirit of ░░░░░░░░ and reason and enterprise ░░░░░░░░ the primacy of right ░░░░░░░░ might that allowed us ░░░░░░░░ resist the lure it ░░░░░░░░ us to build a ░░░░░░░░ World War II order ░░░░░░░░ other democracies An order ░░░░░░░░ not just on military ░░░░░░░░ or national affiliations but ░░░░░░░░ on built on principle ░░░░░░░░ rule of law the ░░░░░░░░ of religion speech assembly ░░░░░░░░ an independent press Applause ░░░░░░░░ Obama That order is ░░░░░░░░ being challenged First by ░░░░░░░░ fanatics who claim to ░░░░░░░░ for Islam more recently ░░░░░░░░ autocrats in foreign capitals ░░░░░░░░ seek markets and civil ░░░░░░░░ itself as a threat ░░░░░░░░ their power The peril ░░░░░░░░ poses to our democracy ░░░░░░░░ more far reaching than ░░░░░░░░ car bomb or missile ░░░░░░░░ represent the fear of ░░░░░░░░ The fear of people ░░░░░░░░ look B or pray ░░░░░░░░ A contempt for rule ░░░░░░░░ law that holds leaders ░░░░░░░░ An intolerance of free ░░░░░░░░ The belief that the ░░░░░░░░ with a gun with ░░░░░░░░ bomb or the propaganda ░░░░░░░░ is the ultimate arbiter ░░░░░░░░ what is true and ░░░░░░░░ Because of the extraordinary ░░░░░░░░ of our men and ░░░░░░░░ in uniform because of ░░░░░░░░ intelligence officers and law ░░░░░░░░ and diplomats that support ░░░░░░░░ troops Applause President Obama ░░░░░░░░ foreign terrorist organization has ░░░░░░░░ planned and executed an ░░░░░░░░ on our homeland in ░░░░░░░░ last eight years Applause ░░░░░░░░ Obama And although Boston ░░░░░░░░ Orlando and San Bernardino ░░░░░░░░ for good fort hood ░░░░░░░░ us of how dangerous ░░░░░░░░ can be aqaba enforcement ░░░░░░░░ are more effective and ░░░░░░░░ than ever We have ░░░░░░░░ up tens of thousands ░░░░░░░░ terrorists including bin Laden ░░░░░░░░ President Obama The global ░░░░░░░░ we are leaving against ░░░░░░░░ has taken away about ░░░░░░░░ of their territory Issa ░░░░░░░░ be destroyed and no ░░░░░░░░ who threatens America will ░░░░░░░░ be safe And to ░░░░░░░░ who serve it has ░░░░░░░░ the honor of my ░░░░░░░░ to be a commander ░░░░░░░░ chief Cheers President Obama ░░░░░░░░ protecting our way of ░░░░░░░░ that is not just ░░░░░░░░ job of our military ░░░░░░░░ can buckle when he ░░░░░░░░ in to fear Just ░░░░░░░░ we as citizens must ░░░░░░░░ vigilant against external aggression ░░░░░░░░ must guard against a ░░░░░░░░ of the values that ░░░░░░░░ us who we are ░░░░░░░░ President Obama That is ░░░░░░░░ for the past eight ░░░░░░░░ I have worked to ░░░░░░░░ the fight against terrorism ░░░░░░░░ a firmer legal footing ░░░░░░░░ why we worked to ░░░░░░░░ Gitmo That is why ░░░░░░░░ reject discrimination against Muslim ░░░░░░░░ Cheers President Obama That ░░░░░░░░ why that is why ░░░░░░░░ cannot withdraw that is ░░░░░░░░ we cannot withdraw from ░░░░░░░░ global fight to expand ░░░░░░░░ human rights women s ░░░░░░░░ LGBT right No matter ░░░░░░░░ imperfect our efforts no ░░░░░░░░ how expedient ignoring such ░░░░░░░░ may seem that is ░░░░░░░░ of defending America For ░░░░░░░░ fight against extremism and ░░░░░░░░ and sectarianism and chauvinism ░░░░░░░░ the scope of freedom ░░░░░░░░ respect for the rule ░░░░░░░░ law shrinks around the ░░░░░░░░ the likelihood of war ░░░░░░░░ and between nations increases ░░░░░░░░ own freedoms will eventually ░░░░░░░░ threatened So let s ░░░░░░░░ vigilant but not afraid ░░░░░░░░ President Obama ISIL will ░░░░░░░░ to kill innocent people ░░░░░░░░ they cannot defeat America ░░░░░░░░ we betray our constitution ░░░░░░░░ our principles in the ░░░░░░░░ Applause President Obama Rivals ░░░░░░░░ Russia or China cannot ░░░░░░░░ our influence around the ░░░░░░░░ unless we give up ░░░░░░░░ we stand for as ░░░░░░░░ ourselves into just another ░░░░░░░░ country that bully smaller ░░░░░░░░ bullies smaller neighbors This ░░░░░░░░ me to my final ░░░░░░░░ Our democracy is threatened ░░░░░░░░ we take it for ░░░░░░░░ Applause President Obama All ░░░░░░░░ us regardless of party ░░░░░░░░ be throwing ourselves into ░░░░░░░░ task of rebuilding our ░░░░░░░░ institutions Applause President obam ░░░░░░░░ rates in America are ░░░░░░░░ of the lowest amongst ░░░░░░░░ democracies we should be ░░░░░░░░ an not harder to ░░░░░░░░ Applause President Obama When ░░░░░░░░ in our institutions is ░░░░░░░░ we should reduce the ░░░░░░░░ influence of money in ░░░░░░░░ politics and insist on ░░░░░░░░ principles of ethics and ░░░░░░░░ service in public service ░░░░░░░░ Congress is dysfunctional we ░░░░░░░░ draw our congestion congressional ░░░░░░░░ to cater to common ░░░░░░░░ Applause President Obama Remember ░░░░░░░░ of this happens on ░░░░░░░░ own All of this ░░░░░░░░ on our participation aren ░░░░░░░░ you to invest accepting ░░░░░░░░ responsibility of citizenship regardless ░░░░░░░░ which way the pendulum ░░░░░░░░ power happens to be ░░░░░░░░ Our constitution is a ░░░░░░░░ beautiful gift But it ░░░░░░░░ really just a piece ░░░░░░░░ parchment It has no ░░░░░░░░ on its own We ░░░░░░░░ people give it power ░░░░░░░░ the people give it ░░░░░░░░ with our participation and ░░░░░░░░ the choices we make ░░░░░░░░ the alliances we forge ░░░░░░░░ or not we stand ░░░░░░░░ for our freedom whether ░░░░░░░░ not we respect and ░░░░░░░░ the rule of law ░░░░░░░░ is up to us ░░░░░░░░ is no fragile thing ░░░░░░░░ the gains of our ░░░░░░░░ journey to freedom not ░░░░░░░░ In his own film ░░░░░░░░ address farewell address George ░░░░░░░░ wrote self government is ░░░░░░░░ underpinning of our safety ░░░░░░░░ and liberty but from ░░░░░░░░ causes and quarters much ░░░░░░░░ will be taken to ░░░░░░░░ weaken in your mind ░░░░░░░░ conviction of this truth ░░░░░░░░ we have to preserve ░░░░░░░░ truth with jealous anxiety ░░░░░░░░ we must strengthen the ░░░░░░░░ that make us one ░░░░░░░░ President Obama America we ░░░░░░░░ those ties when we ░░░░░░░░ political dialogue to become ░░░░░░░░ corrosive Americans with whom ░░░░░░░░ disagree are seen not ░░░░░░░░ as misguided malevolent We ░░░░░░░░ those tires when we ░░░░░░░░ off the whole system ░░░░░░░░ equally corrupt and when ░░░░░░░░ sit back and blame ░░░░░░░░ leaders that we elect ░░░░░░░░ examining our own role ░░░░░░░░ electing them Applause President ░░░░░░░░ It is up to ░░░░░░░░ of us to be ░░░░░░░░ jealous guardians of our ░░░░░░░░ to embrace the task ░░░░░░░░ have been given to ░░░░░░░░ trying to prove this ░░░░░░░░ nation of ours For ░░░░░░░░ of our outward differences ░░░░░░░░ all share the most ░░░░░░░░ office in democracy citizen ░░░░░░░░ President Obama Citizen So ░░░░░░░░ see that is what ░░░░░░░░ democracy demands It needs ░░░░░░░░ Not just when there ░░░░░░░░ an election not just ░░░░░░░░ your own narrow interest ░░░░░░░░ at stake but over ░░░░░░░░ full span of a ░░░░░░░░ If you re tired ░░░░░░░░ arguing with strangers on ░░░░░░░░ Internet try talking with ░░░░░░░░ of them in real ░░░░░░░░ Laughter Applause President Obama ░░░░░░░░ something needs fixing then ░░░░░░░░ some organizing Laughter Applause ░░░░░░░░ Obama If you are ░░░░░░░░ by your elected officials ░░░░░░░░ a clipboard get some ░░░░░░░░ and run for office ░░░░░░░░ Applause President Obama Show ░░░░░░░░ died ve in stay ░░░░░░░░ it Sometimes you will ░░░░░░░░ sometimes you will lose ░░░░░░░░ a reservoir a goodness ░░░░░░░░ other people that can ░░░░░░░░ a risk There will ░░░░░░░░ times when the process ░░░░░░░░ disappoint you For those ░░░░░░░░ us fortunate enough to ░░░░░░░░ part of this work ░░░░░░░░ to see it up ░░░░░░░░ let me tell you ░░░░░░░░ can energize and inspire ░░░░░░░░ often than not your ░░░░░░░░ in America and in ░░░░░░░░ will be confirmed Mine ░░░░░░░░ has been Applause President ░░░░░░░░ Over the course of ░░░░░░░░ eight years I have ░░░░░░░░ the hopeful faces of ░░░░░░░░ graduates and the newest ░░░░░░░░ officers I have mourned ░░░░░░░░ grieving families searching for ░░░░░░░░ and found grace at ░░░░░░░░ Charleston church I have ░░░░░░░░ a scientist help the ░░░░░░░░ man regained his sense ░░░░░░░░ touch I have seen ░░░░░░░░ warriors who were at ░░░░░░░░ given up for dead ░░░░░░░░ again I have seen ░░░░░░░░ and volunteers rebuild after ░░░░░░░░ and stop pandemics in ░░░░░░░░ tracks I have seen ░░░░░░░░ youngest of children remind ░░░░░░░░ of our obligation to ░░░░░░░░ refugees and work for ░░░░░░░░ and above all look ░░░░░░░░ for each other Applause ░░░░░░░░ Obama So that faith ░░░░░░░░ not very far from ░░░░░░░░ in the power of ░░░░░░░░ to bring about change ░░░░░░░░ fate has been rewarded ░░░░░░░░ ways I could not ░░░░░░░░ imagine I hope your ░░░░░░░░ has too Some of ░░░░░░░░ here tonight or watching ░░░░░░░░ home you were with ░░░░░░░░ in 2004 and 2008 ░░░░░░░░ Cheers President Obama May ░░░░░░░░ you still can t ░░░░░░░░ we pull this thing ░░░░░░░░ Let me tell you ░░░░░░░░ are not the only ░░░░░░░░ Laughter President Obama Michelle ░░░░░░░░ President Obama Michelle Robinson ░░░░░░░░ of the southside for ░░░░░░░░ past 25 years you ░░░░░░░░ not only been my ░░░░░░░░ and mother of my ░░░░░░░░ you have been my ░░░░░░░░ friend Applause President Obama ░░░░░░░░ took on a roll ░░░░░░░░ did not ask for ░░░░░░░░ you did not ask ░░░░░░░░ and you made it ░░░░░░░░ own Cheers President Obama ░░░░░░░░ make the White House ░░░░░░░░ place that belongs to ░░░░░░░░ and a new generations ░░░░░░░░ it right its sights ░░░░░░░░ because they had you ░░░░░░░░ a role model You ░░░░░░░░ me proud and you ░░░░░░░░ the country proud Applause ░░░░░░░░ Obama Malia and Sasha ░░░░░░░░ the strangest of consequences ░░░░░░░░ ha become two of ░░░░░░░░ young women You are ░░░░░░░░ and beautiful but more ░░░░░░░░ you are kind and ░░░░░░░░ and full of passion ░░░░░░░░ President Obama You bore ░░░░░░░░ burden of years in ░░░░░░░░ spotlight so easily Of ░░░░░░░░ I have done in ░░░░░░░░ life I m most ░░░░░░░░ to be your dad ░░░░░░░░ President Obama To Joe ░░░░░░░░ cheers President Obama You ░░░░░░░░ the first decision I ░░░░░░░░ made as a nominee ░░░░░░░░ it was the best ░░░░░░░░ President Obama Not just ░░░░░░░░ you have been a ░░░░░░░░ vice president but because ░░░░░░░░ the bargain I gained ░░░░░░░░ brother We love you ░░░░░░░░ Jill like a family ░░░░░░░░ friendship has been one ░░░░░░░░ the great joys To ░░░░░░░░ remarkable staff for eight ░░░░░░░░ and for some of ░░░░░░░░ a whole lot more ░░░░░░░░ have drawn from your ░░░░░░░░ and every day I ░░░░░░░░ to reflect back what ░░░░░░░░ display heart character idealism ░░░░░░░░ have watched you grow ░░░░░░░░ get married have kids ░░░░░░░░ incredible new journeys of ░░░░░░░░ own Even when times ░░░░░░░░ tough and frustrating you ░░░░░░░░ left Washington let Washington ░░░░░░░░ the better of you ░░░░░░░░ guarded against cynicism The ░░░░░░░░ thing that makes me ░░░░░░░░ of all that we ░░░░░░░░ done is the thought ░░░░░░░░ all the amazing things ░░░░░░░░ will achieve from here ░░░░░░░░ President Obama To all ░░░░░░░░ you out there every ░░░░░░░░ who moved to an ░░░░░░░░ town every kind family ░░░░░░░░ welcomed them in every ░░░░░░░░ that knocked on doors ░░░░░░░░ young person the cast ░░░░░░░░ valid for the first ░░░░░░░░ every American that lives ░░░░░░░░ breathes the hard work ░░░░░░░░ change you are the ░░░░░░░░ organize his and supported ░░░░░░░░ could hope for I ░░░░░░░░ be forever grateful You ░░░░░░░░ change the world You ░░░░░░░░ Applause President Obama That ░░░░░░░░ why I leave this ░░░░░░░░ tonight even more optimistic ░░░░░░░░ when we started Because ░░░░░░░░ know our work has ░░░░░░░░ only helped so many ░░░░░░░░ it has been so ░░░░░░░░ Americans had inspired so ░░░░░░░░ Americans especially so many ░░░░░░░░ people out there To ░░░░░░░░ that you can make ░░░░░░░░ difference Let me tell ░░░░░░░░ this generation coming up ░░░░░░░░ altruistic creative patriotic I ░░░░░░░░ seen you in every ░░░░░░░░ of America You believe ░░░░░░░░ are ready to carry ░░░░░░░░ hard work of democracy ░░░░░░░░ You will soon outnumber ░░░░░░░░ of us I believe ░░░░░░░░ future is in good ░░░░░░░░ Applause President Obama My ░░░░░░░░ Americans it has been ░░░░░░░░ honor of my life ░░░░░░░░ serve you I will ░░░░░░░░ stop In fact I ░░░░░░░░ be right there with ░░░░░░░░ as a citizen all ░░░░░░░░ remaining days Applause President ░░░░░░░░ For now whether you ░░░░░░░░ young or young at ░░░░░░░░ I do have one ░░░░░░░░ ask of you as ░░░░░░░░ president The same thing ░░░░░░░░ asked when you took ░░░░░░░░ chance on me eight ░░░░░░░░ ago I m asking ░░░░░░░░ to believe Not in ░░░░░░░░ ability to bring about ░░░░░░░░ but in yours I ░░░░░░░░ asking you to hold ░░░░░░░░ in that faith written ░░░░░░░░ our founding documents that ░░░░░░░░ whispered by slaves and ░░░░░░░░ that freed reaffirmed by ░░░░░░░░ who planted flags in ░░░░░░░░ battlefields to the surface ░░░░░░░░ the moon a Cree ░░░░░░░░ core of every American ░░░░░░░░ is not yet a ░░░░░░░░ in the core of ░░░░░░░░ American that is not ░░░░░░░░ written Yes we can ░░░░░░░░ bless you. [Cheers] ♪♪