Obama Praises Teen Pregnancy, Telling Teens They May Be Raising the ‘Next President’

"I want to share a story that I had a privilege of having a front row seat on. And it was a story about three months ago. We were together in Minnesota, in Minneapolis. We were doing an event surrounding job training. And we were with about 13 young women - average age was about 17, 18-years-old. And they were all in this job training program and they were all moms, single moms. And, after all, the press had left.

The president had some face time with these folks and they were remarkable young women. They were trying to better their lives. They wanted to make sure that they can make ends meet so that their children can grow up. And you should have seen a look in their eyes, 'What did you do today?' "Hey, I'm with the president.' You know, they're having a good day.

And the president talked to them about how -- 'You know what? My mother was 18 years old when I was born. One of you may be helping to raise the next president of the United States. It can be you.'

And then he turned to them and said, 'Do you have any questions for me?' And the first question was, 'If you could accomplish one thing. Mr. President, this year, what would it be?'

And a nanosecond later, he said -- and again there were no cameras in the room, no press in the room; this was a very imminent setting and I remember it vividly -- he said, 'Comprehensive immigration reform, because I have met so many people across this country who want opportunity; for whom opportunity continues to be illusive and Congress has always worked on this issue together.

 And for some reason, there are some on Congress, on one side of the aisle in one Chamber, who aren't allowing this to come on.' And you could just see his values and his leadership in action."