President Obama: 'Their bet is on cynicism. They figure they can outlast you.'

November 3, 2012




excerpt of remarks by President Obama
Delta Center
Milwaukee, Wisconsin


_____ We know what the future requires. And, Wisconsin, we know it won't be easy. The next phase of change will not be easy. Back in 2008, I know a lot of folks, they were swept up in the excitement, and had the posters and -- but sometimes maybe people didn't hear me when I said change we believe in is not just changing presidents, it's not just changing parties. It's changing our politics. (Applause.) It's changing the system.

I ran because the voices of the American people -- your voices -- had been shut out of our democracy for way too long by lobbyists and special interests, politicians who were willing to do whatever it takes, say whatever it takes just to keep things the way they are -- the protectors of the status quo. Over the last four years, those protectors of the status quo in Washington, they have fought us every step of the way, spent millions of dollars to stop us from reforming the health care system; spent millions trying to stop us from reforming Wall Street. They engineered a strategy of gridlock in Congress, refusing to compromise on ideas that Democrats and Republicans used to agree to in the past.

And the reason they did it is because they're counting on you to be so worn down by all the squabbling, so tired of all the dysfunction, that you just give up, you walk away, you leave them in power.





AUDIENCE: No!

THE PRESIDENT: In other words, Wisconsin, their bet is on cynicism. They figure they can outlast you.

AUDIENCE: No!

THE PRESIDENT: They figure, you know what, yeah, these guys may get enthusiastic, but over time that enthusiasm fades away and we're still here. But, Wisconsin, see, my bet is on you. (Applause.) My bet is on the goodness and decency of the American people. (Applause.)





And by the way, the point I'm making here is not partisan. When the other party has been with me to fight for middle-class families, I've loved working with them. When we cut taxes for middle-class families and small businesses, that was bipartisan. When we repealed "don't ask, don't tell," there were some courageous Republicans in the Senate who voted with us. (Applause.) That was leadership.

I will work with anybody, of any party, to move this country forward. (Applause.) And if you really want to break the gridlock in Congress, you'll vote for leaders who feel the same way -- whether they're Democrats, Republicans, independents -- people who put you first, who put the American people first, not the elections first, or partisan advantage first, or special interests first, or big-money contributors first, or super PACs first, but put the people of Wisconsin first. (Applause.) That's what you should be thinking about.

But you know what, there are going to be some fights sometimes, because there are fights that need to be had to bring about change and push through the resistance of the status quo. If the price of peace in Washington is cutting deals that will kick students off of financial aid, or get rid of funding for Planned Parenthood, or let insurance companies go back to discriminating against people with preexisting conditions, or eliminate health care for millions on Medicaid who are poor, or elderly, or disabled -- that's not a deal I'm willing to take. (Applause.) That's not a price you should want your President to pay. That's not bipartisanship. That's not change. That's surrender to a status quo that's doesn't work for middle-class families. (Applause.) And I'm not ready to give up on the fight! (Applause.) I'm not ready to give up on the fight. And I hope you aren't either, Wisconsin. I hope you aren't either.





The folks at the very top in this country, they don't need another champion in Washington. They always have a seat at the table. They'll always have access. They'll always have influence. The people who need a champion are the Americans whose letters I read late at night after my work in the office is done; the men and women I meet on the campaign trail every day.

A laid-off worker who's gone back to community college at the age of 55 to try to retrain for a biotech job -- she needs a champion. The restaurant owner who needs a loan to expand his small restaurant after the bank turned him down -- he needs a champion. The cooks and the waiters and the cleaning staff working overtime in a Vegas hotel, trying to save enough to buy a first home or send their kid to college -- they need a champion. (Applause.)

The autoworker who thought he'd never see his plant reopen and who's now back on the job, filled with pride and dignity of building a great car, helping to build America -- he needs a champion. (Applause.) That teacher in an overcrowded classroom with outdated schoolbooks, digging into her own pocket to buy school supplies, but never giving up hope that she can change lives of some child in her class -- she needs a champion. (Applause.)





All those kids in inner cities and small farm towns, in the rolling hills of Virginia or the valleys of Ohio, or right here in Milwaukee -- kids dreaming of becoming scientists or doctors, engineers or entrepreneurs, diplomats, maybe a President -- they need a champion. (Applause.) Because the future will never have lobbyists like the status quo does, but the dreams of those kids will be our saving grace. (Applause.)

That's what we're fighting for. That's what this election is about. That's why I need you. (Applause.) That's why I need you, Wisconsin -- to make sure their voices are heard. (Applause.) To make sure your voices are heard. (Applause.) We have come too far to turn back now. We've come too far to let our hearts grow weary, to let our hearts grow faint.

Now is the time to keep pushing forward -- to educate all our kids, train all our workers, create new jobs, rebuild our infrastructure, discover new sources of energy, broaden opportunity, grow our middle class, restore our democracy -- and make sure that no matter where you come from, no matter how you started out, no matter what you look like, no matter who you love, no matter what your last name is, here in America you can make it if you try. (Applause.)

That's what we're fighting for, Wisconsin. (Applause.) That's why I'm asking for your vote. And if you're willing to work with me, and knock on doors with me, and make some phone calls with me, and turn out with me -- (applause) -- and grab your friends and your neighbors and your coworkers and get them to the polls for me, we'll win Wisconsin. (Applause.) We'll win this election. (Applause.) We'll renew the bonds that tie us together and reaffirm the spirit that makes the United States of America the greatest nation on Earth. (Applause.)

God bless you. God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)




full transcript: http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2012/11/obama_in_milwaukee_theyre_coun.html

more pics: http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Barack+Obama/browse


Lis Smith @Lis_Smith
20,000 turn out for @BarackObama in Milwaukee. Or as @MittRomney would say, 40,000. pic.twitter.com/Yim2hndf #forward

President Obama Full Speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - 11/3/12