President Obama's message for this Easter week
April 22, 2011
This week, President Obama held a series of town hall discussions in Virginia, California, and Nevada that focused on shrinking our deficits and debt in a way that stays true to the values of shared responsibility and shared prosperity. In addition, President Obama participated in several DNC events in San Francisco and Los Angeles, where he spoke to thousands of supporters.
Also this week, President Obama hosted Christian leaders from across the country at the annual Easter Prayer Breakfast in the East Room of the White House.
DNC Events: This week, President Obama traveled to California where he held a series of DNC events in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The President‟s remarks focused largely on strengthening America‟s economic future by reducing the deficit, and also touched on the type of America we would like to leave our children and grandchildren.
In remarks at Nob Hill Masonic Center in San Francisco, President Obama said:
“We‟ve got to protect the changes that we made, and we‟ve got to make the changes that remain undone. We‟ve got to keep moving forward. We‟ve got to keep working for the America that we believe in, the America we want to leave behind to our kids.
“I want a vision of America that is big and bold and ambitious as it has ever been. That‟s what I‟m fighting for and that‟s what this campaign has to be about -- a vision of a big, generous, compassionate America; a vision where we‟re living within our means but we‟re still investing in our future; a vision where we all share sacrifice, nobody bears all the burden, and we all share an opportunity; a vision where we live up to the idea that no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, no matter what you look like, no matter whether your ancestors landed here on Ellis Island or came here on slave ships or came across the Rio Grande, we are all connected. We will rise and fall together.”
In remarks at an event in Los Angeles, President Obama said:
“We have made extraordinary progress over the last two and a half years. We‟ve pulled this economy out of a recession. We‟ve stabilized the financial system. We‟ve passed historic health care legislation to make sure 30 million people aren‟t going to go without coverage. We have repealed „Don‟t Ask, Don‟t Tell.‟ We have put two women on the Supreme Court, including the first Latina. We‟ve passed equal pay for equal work.
“We can go down the list. But we also know we‟ve still got a lot more work to do. We‟ve just started, and we‟ve got a lot more work to do.”
Town Halls: This week, President Obama participated in town hall events at Northern Virginia Community College in Virginia; Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, California; and ElectraThern, Inc. in Reno, Nevada. The President spoke directly with the American people about addressing the difficult challenges of America‟s future, specifically his plans for shrinking our deficits and debt in a way that keeps faith with the values of shared responsibility and shared prosperity. In opening remarks at the town hall in Virginia, President Obama said:
“For a long time, Washington acted like deficits didn‟t matter. A lot of folks promised us a free lunch. So I think everybody needs to recall, we had a surplus back in 2000, 11 short years ago, but then we cut taxes for everybody, including millionaires and billionaires. We fought two wars and we created a new and expensive prescription drug program, and we didn‟t pay for any of it.
“And as the saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch. So we were left with a big deficit as I was coming into office, and then we had the worst recession since the Great Depression. And that made it worse, because in a
Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication 2
is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
recession two things happen: Number one, the federal government helps out states and localities to prevent teacher layoffs and firefighters and police officers from being laid off, and all that costs money. It requires more money to provide additional help to people who‟ve lost their jobs or are in danger or losing their homes. So the federal government is putting more money out, but because of the recession it‟s taking less money in tax revenues, and so that grows the depression -- the deficit further.
“Just as it would undermine our future to ignore our deficits, it would also undermine our future to ignore the promise of students like you -– young people who come to this school to get a degree in the hopes of living out a better life, giving your children and your grandchildren a better life. That‟s the core of the debate that we‟re having right now. Both Democrats and Republicans agree that we should reduce the deficit. In fact, there is general agreement that we need to cut spending by about $4 trillion over the medium term. And when folks in Washington agree on anything, that‟s a good sign. So the debate isn‟t about whether we reduce our deficit. The debate is about how we reduce our deficit.
“And my view is, we need to live within our means while still investing in our future -– cutting where we can while investing in education, investing in innovation, investing in infrastructure, and strengthening the safety net provided by programs like Medicare so that they‟re there for this generation and for next generations.”
On Wednesday, President Obama participated in the first ever “Facebook Town Hall” from Palo Alto, California. In remarks at the Facebook town hall, President Obama said:
“[P]art of what makes for a healthy democracy, what is good politics, is when you‟ve got citizens who are informed, who are engaged. And what Facebook allows us to do is make sure this isn‟t just a one-way conversation; makes sure that not only am I speaking to you but you're also speaking back and we're in a conversation, we‟re in a dialogue.
“It hasn‟t been that long since Election Day, and we‟ve gone through some very, very tough times and we‟ve still gotten a lot done. We‟ve still been able to get this economy recovering. We‟ve still been able to get health care passed. We‟ve still been able to invest in clean energy. We‟ve still been able to make sure that we overturn „Don‟t Ask, Don‟t Tell.‟ We still made sure that we got two women on the Supreme Court. We‟ve made progress.
“So rather than be discouraged, I hope everybody is willing to double down and work even harder. Regardless of your political affiliation, you‟ve got to be involved, especially the young people here, your generation. If you don‟t give us a shove, if you don‟t give the system a push, it‟s just not going to change. And you‟re going to be the ones who end up suffering the consequences. But if you are behind it, if you put the same energy and imagination that you put into Facebook into the political process, I guarantee you there‟s nothing we can‟t solve.”
Easter Breakfast at the White House: On Tuesday, President Obama hosted the annual Easter Prayer Breakfast in the East Room of the White House. In front of Christian leaders from across the country, the President noted the especially difficult times for folks in North Carolina, saying:
“Some of you know, obviously, North Carolina was ravaged by storms this past weekend, and our thoughts and prayers are with all the families who have been affected down there.”
In his remarks, President Obama also said:
"I want to host this breakfast for a simple reason: because as busy as we are, as many tasks that pile up, during this season, we are reminded that there is something about the resurrection - something about the resurrection of our savior, Jesus Christ, that puts everything else in perspective.
"That's why we have this breakfast. Because in the middle of these critical national debates, in the middle of our busy lives, we must always make sure that we are keeping things in perspective. Children help do that. A strong spouse helps do that. But nothing beats scripture and the reminder of the eternal."
Key Issues in the News and Background
Talking Points: Reducing America’s Deficit With Shared Responsibility and Shared Prosperity
President Obama held a series of town hall discussions this week in Virginia, California, and Nevada because he wanted to talk directly to the American people about his vision for shrinking our deficits and debt in a way that keeps faith with the values of shared responsibility and shared prosperity.
If we want to entice businesses to locate in America and create jobs here at home, we have to ensure our country is built to compete. We have to have the best roads, the fastest trains, and the quickest broadband networks.
Shrinking America‟s deficit and beginning to live within our means, just like millions of Americans do every day, is vital to meeting future challenges and providing increasing opportunity for future generations.
Leaders of both parties agree that we can‟t risk an economic catastrophe by allowing the U.S. to go into default, which is why we have to raise the debt ceiling. At the same time, we have to work together to reduce spending and shrink the deficit, but we should be able to do that without risking the health of our economy.
On Thursday, May 5th, Vice President Biden will hold a meeting with Members of Congress at Blair House on the topic of deficit reduction. In President Obama‟s speech on fiscal policy, he announced that the Vice President would lead a bipartisan, bicameral group in working to develop a legislative framework for comprehensive deficit reduction.
This week, President Obama held a series of town hall discussions in Virginia, California, and Nevada that focused on shrinking our deficits and debt in a way that stays true to the values of shared responsibility and shared prosperity. In addition, President Obama participated in several DNC events in San Francisco and Los Angeles, where he spoke to thousands of supporters.
Also this week, President Obama hosted Christian leaders from across the country at the annual Easter Prayer Breakfast in the East Room of the White House.
DNC Events: This week, President Obama traveled to California where he held a series of DNC events in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The President‟s remarks focused largely on strengthening America‟s economic future by reducing the deficit, and also touched on the type of America we would like to leave our children and grandchildren.
In remarks at Nob Hill Masonic Center in San Francisco, President Obama said:
“We‟ve got to protect the changes that we made, and we‟ve got to make the changes that remain undone. We‟ve got to keep moving forward. We‟ve got to keep working for the America that we believe in, the America we want to leave behind to our kids.
“I want a vision of America that is big and bold and ambitious as it has ever been. That‟s what I‟m fighting for and that‟s what this campaign has to be about -- a vision of a big, generous, compassionate America; a vision where we‟re living within our means but we‟re still investing in our future; a vision where we all share sacrifice, nobody bears all the burden, and we all share an opportunity; a vision where we live up to the idea that no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, no matter what you look like, no matter whether your ancestors landed here on Ellis Island or came here on slave ships or came across the Rio Grande, we are all connected. We will rise and fall together.”
In remarks at an event in Los Angeles, President Obama said:
“We have made extraordinary progress over the last two and a half years. We‟ve pulled this economy out of a recession. We‟ve stabilized the financial system. We‟ve passed historic health care legislation to make sure 30 million people aren‟t going to go without coverage. We have repealed „Don‟t Ask, Don‟t Tell.‟ We have put two women on the Supreme Court, including the first Latina. We‟ve passed equal pay for equal work.
“We can go down the list. But we also know we‟ve still got a lot more work to do. We‟ve just started, and we‟ve got a lot more work to do.”
Town Halls: This week, President Obama participated in town hall events at Northern Virginia Community College in Virginia; Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, California; and ElectraThern, Inc. in Reno, Nevada. The President spoke directly with the American people about addressing the difficult challenges of America‟s future, specifically his plans for shrinking our deficits and debt in a way that keeps faith with the values of shared responsibility and shared prosperity. In opening remarks at the town hall in Virginia, President Obama said:
“For a long time, Washington acted like deficits didn‟t matter. A lot of folks promised us a free lunch. So I think everybody needs to recall, we had a surplus back in 2000, 11 short years ago, but then we cut taxes for everybody, including millionaires and billionaires. We fought two wars and we created a new and expensive prescription drug program, and we didn‟t pay for any of it.
“And as the saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch. So we were left with a big deficit as I was coming into office, and then we had the worst recession since the Great Depression. And that made it worse, because in a
Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication 2
is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
recession two things happen: Number one, the federal government helps out states and localities to prevent teacher layoffs and firefighters and police officers from being laid off, and all that costs money. It requires more money to provide additional help to people who‟ve lost their jobs or are in danger or losing their homes. So the federal government is putting more money out, but because of the recession it‟s taking less money in tax revenues, and so that grows the depression -- the deficit further.
“Just as it would undermine our future to ignore our deficits, it would also undermine our future to ignore the promise of students like you -– young people who come to this school to get a degree in the hopes of living out a better life, giving your children and your grandchildren a better life. That‟s the core of the debate that we‟re having right now. Both Democrats and Republicans agree that we should reduce the deficit. In fact, there is general agreement that we need to cut spending by about $4 trillion over the medium term. And when folks in Washington agree on anything, that‟s a good sign. So the debate isn‟t about whether we reduce our deficit. The debate is about how we reduce our deficit.
“And my view is, we need to live within our means while still investing in our future -– cutting where we can while investing in education, investing in innovation, investing in infrastructure, and strengthening the safety net provided by programs like Medicare so that they‟re there for this generation and for next generations.”
On Wednesday, President Obama participated in the first ever “Facebook Town Hall” from Palo Alto, California. In remarks at the Facebook town hall, President Obama said:
“[P]art of what makes for a healthy democracy, what is good politics, is when you‟ve got citizens who are informed, who are engaged. And what Facebook allows us to do is make sure this isn‟t just a one-way conversation; makes sure that not only am I speaking to you but you're also speaking back and we're in a conversation, we‟re in a dialogue.
“It hasn‟t been that long since Election Day, and we‟ve gone through some very, very tough times and we‟ve still gotten a lot done. We‟ve still been able to get this economy recovering. We‟ve still been able to get health care passed. We‟ve still been able to invest in clean energy. We‟ve still been able to make sure that we overturn „Don‟t Ask, Don‟t Tell.‟ We still made sure that we got two women on the Supreme Court. We‟ve made progress.
“So rather than be discouraged, I hope everybody is willing to double down and work even harder. Regardless of your political affiliation, you‟ve got to be involved, especially the young people here, your generation. If you don‟t give us a shove, if you don‟t give the system a push, it‟s just not going to change. And you‟re going to be the ones who end up suffering the consequences. But if you are behind it, if you put the same energy and imagination that you put into Facebook into the political process, I guarantee you there‟s nothing we can‟t solve.”
Easter Breakfast at the White House: On Tuesday, President Obama hosted the annual Easter Prayer Breakfast in the East Room of the White House. In front of Christian leaders from across the country, the President noted the especially difficult times for folks in North Carolina, saying:
“Some of you know, obviously, North Carolina was ravaged by storms this past weekend, and our thoughts and prayers are with all the families who have been affected down there.”
In his remarks, President Obama also said:
"I want to host this breakfast for a simple reason: because as busy as we are, as many tasks that pile up, during this season, we are reminded that there is something about the resurrection - something about the resurrection of our savior, Jesus Christ, that puts everything else in perspective.
"That's why we have this breakfast. Because in the middle of these critical national debates, in the middle of our busy lives, we must always make sure that we are keeping things in perspective. Children help do that. A strong spouse helps do that. But nothing beats scripture and the reminder of the eternal."
Key Issues in the News and Background
Talking Points: Reducing America’s Deficit With Shared Responsibility and Shared Prosperity
President Obama held a series of town hall discussions this week in Virginia, California, and Nevada because he wanted to talk directly to the American people about his vision for shrinking our deficits and debt in a way that keeps faith with the values of shared responsibility and shared prosperity.
If we want to entice businesses to locate in America and create jobs here at home, we have to ensure our country is built to compete. We have to have the best roads, the fastest trains, and the quickest broadband networks.
Shrinking America‟s deficit and beginning to live within our means, just like millions of Americans do every day, is vital to meeting future challenges and providing increasing opportunity for future generations.
Leaders of both parties agree that we can‟t risk an economic catastrophe by allowing the U.S. to go into default, which is why we have to raise the debt ceiling. At the same time, we have to work together to reduce spending and shrink the deficit, but we should be able to do that without risking the health of our economy.
On Thursday, May 5th, Vice President Biden will hold a meeting with Members of Congress at Blair House on the topic of deficit reduction. In President Obama‟s speech on fiscal policy, he announced that the Vice President would lead a bipartisan, bicameral group in working to develop a legislative framework for comprehensive deficit reduction.
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