The Speeches of Barack Obama 2
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Contents 04 FIRST LADY'S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack CD Track01-18 09 ACCEPTANCE SPEECH: Our Path Leads to a Better Place CD Track19-21 45 FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: Which Path Forward? CD Track22-26 51 VICTORY SPEECH: The Best Is Yet to Come CD Track27-39 61 THANK YOU SPEECH TO CAMPAIGN STAFF: Heartfelt Gratitude CD Track40-44 87 96 03
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SUZUKI Takeshi 08
First Lady's Speech at the 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack 3 2012 2 8000
CD Track 02 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack Over the past few years as first lady, I have had the extraordinary privilege of traveling all across this country. And everywhere I ve gone, in the people I ve met, and the stories I ve heard, I have seen the very best of the American spirit. I have seen it in the...the incredible kindness and warmth that people have shown me and my family, especially our girls. I...I ve seen it in...in teachers in a near-bankrupt school district who vowed to keep teaching without pay. I...I...I ve seen it in...in people who become heroes at a moment s notice diving into harm s way to save others; flying across the country to put out a fire; driving for hours to bail out a flooded town. And I ve seen it in our men and women in uniform and our proud military families in...in wounded warriors who tell me they re not just going to walk again, they re going to run, and they re going to run marathons; in the young man blinded by a bomb in Afghanistan who said, simply, I d give my eyes 100 times again to have the chance to do what I have done and what I can still do. first lady: DNC: meet: past: extraordinary: privilege: the very best: spirit: incredible: kindness: warmth: especially: near-bankrupt: school district: 10
vow to do: at a moment s notice: dive into harm s way: fly across: put out a fire: bail out: flooded: in uniform: proud: military: wounded: warrior: blind: bomb: simply: 11
CD Track 03 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack Every day, the people I meet inspire me. Every day, they make me proud. Every day, they remind me how blessed we are to live in the greatest nation on earth. Serving as your first lady is an honor and a privilege. But back when we first came together four years ago, I still had some concerns about this journey we d begun. While I believed deeply in my husband s vision for this country and I was certain he would make an extraordinary president, like any mother, I was worried about what it would mean for our girls if he got that chance. You know, how would we keep them grounded under the glare of the national spotlight? How would they feel being uprooted from their school, their friends, and the only home they d ever known? See, our life before moving to Washington was...was filled with simple joys Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at grandma s house, and a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted mom, I couldn t stay awake for both. inspire: make...proud: remind: blessed: on earth: serve as: honor: back when: come together: have concerns about: believe in: deeply: vision: be certain (that): 12
make: be worried about: get a chance: you know: grounded: glare: be uprooted from: see: move to: be filled with: grandma: date night: exhausted: stay awake: 13
CD Track 04 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack And the truth is, I loved the life we had built for our girls. And I deeply loved the man I had built that life with. And I didn t want that to change if he became president. I loved Barack just the way he was. You see, even back then, when Barack was a senator and a presidential candidate, to me, he was still the guy who picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted out I...I could actually see the pavement going by in a hole in the passenger-side door. He was the guy whose proudest possession was a coffee table he d found in a dumpster and whose only pair of decent shoes was a half size too small. But see, when...when Barack started telling me about his family, see, now that s when I knew I had found a kindred spirit, someone whose values and upbringing were so much like mine. You see, Barack and I were both raised by families who didn t have much in the way of money or material possessions but who had given us something far more valuable their unconditional love, their unflinching sacrifice, and the chance to go places they had never imagined for themselves. the truth is: build a life: back then: senator: presidential candidate: guy: pick...up: be rust out: actually: pavement: go by: passenger-side door: possession: dumpster: decent: 14
kindred: values: upbringing: raise: in the way of: material possessions: far: valuable: unconditional: unflinching: sacrifice: go places: imagine: 15
CD Track 05 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack My father was a pump operator at the city water plant. And he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when my brother and I were young. And even as a kid, I...I knew there were plenty of days when he was in pain. And I knew there were plenty of mornings when it was a struggle for him to simply get out of bed. But every morning, I watched my father wake up with a smile, you know, grab his walker, prop himself up against the bathroom sink, and slowly shave and button his uniform. And when he returned home after a long day s work, my brother and I would...would stand at the top of the stairs of our little apartment, patiently waiting to greet him, watching as he reached down to lift one leg and then the other to slowly climb his way into our arms. But despite these challenges, my dad hardly ever missed a day of work. He and my mom were determined to give me and my brother the kind of education they could only dream of. pump: operator: water plant: diagnose A with B: multiple sclerosis: plenty of: in pain: struggle: get out of: grab: walker: prop A up against B: 16
bathroom sink: shave: button: stairs: patiently: greet: reach down to do: lift: climb one s way: despite: challenge: hardly: miss: be determined to do: dream of: 17
CD Track 06 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack And when my brother and I finally made it to college, nearly all of our tuition came from student loans and grants. But my dad still had to pay a tiny portion of that tuition himself. And every semester, he was determined to pay that bill right on time, even taking out loans when he fell short. He was so proud to be sending his kids to college, and he made sure we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late. You see, for my dad, that s what it meant to be a man. Like...Like so many of us, that was the measure of his success in life, being able to earn a decent living that allowed him to support his family. And...and as I got to know Barack, I realized that even though he had grown up all the way across the country, he d been brought up just like me. Barack was raised by a single mom who struggled to pay the bills and by grandparents who stepped in when she needed help. finally: make it to: nearly all of: tuition: student loan: student grant: tiny: portion: semester: bill: right on time: take out a loan: fall short: be proud to do: make sure (that): 18
miss a deadline: registration: check: measure: earn a living: allow...to do: support: realize that: even though: all the way: bring up: struggle to do: grandparent: step in: 19
CD Track 07 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack Barack s grandmother started out as a secretary at a community bank, and she moved quickly up the ranks. But like so many women, she hit a glass ceiling. And for years, men no more qualified than she was men she had actually trained were promoted up the ladder ahead of her, earning more and more money while Barack s family continued to scrape by. But day after day, she kept on waking up at dawn to catch the bus, arriving at work before anyone else, giving her best without complaint or regret. And...and she would often tell Barack, So long as you kids do well, Bar, that s all that really matters. Like...like so many American families, our families weren t asking for much. They didn t begrudge anyone else s success or care that others had much more than they did. In fact, they admired it. They...they simply believed in that fundamental American promise that, even if you don t start out with much, if you work hard and do what you re supposed to do, you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids. community bank: move up the ranks: glass ceiling: no more...than: qualified: promote...up the ladder: ahead of: continue to do: scrape by: day after day: keep on doing: at dawn: arrive at work: give one s best: complaint: 20
regret: so long as: do well: Bar: that s all that: matter: ask for: begrudge: care that: in fact: admire: fundamental: promise: be supposed to do: grandkid: 21
CD Track 08 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack That s how they raised us. * That s what we learned from their example. We learned about dignity and decency that how hard you work matters more than how much you make; that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself. We...we learned about honesty and integrity that the truth matters; that...that you don t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules; and success doesn t count unless you earn it fair and square. We learned about gratitude and humility that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean. And we were taught to value everyone s contribution and treat everyone with respect. Those are the values that Barack and I and so many of you are trying to pass on to our own children. That s who we are. And...and standing before you four years ago, I knew that I didn t want any of that to change if Barack became president. example: dignity: decency: make much: get ahead: honesty: integrity: take a shortcut: one s own set of rules: count: unless: earn: 22
fair: square: gratitude: humility: have a hand in: janitor: value: contribution: treat: respect: try to do: pass on A to B: 23
CD Track 09 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack Well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being president doesn t change who you are. No, it...it reveals who you are. You see, I...I ve gotten to see up close and personal what being president really looks like. And I ve seen how the issues that come across a president s desk are always the hard ones you know, the problems where no amount of data or numbers will get you to the right answer; the judgment calls where the stakes are so high and there is no margin for error. And as president, you re gonna get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people. But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as president, all you have to guide you are your values and your vision and the life experiences that make you who you are. triumph: moment: test: firsthand: reveal: get to do: up close and personal: issue: come across: no amount of...do: get A to B: 24
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CD Track 10 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack So when it...when it comes to rebuilding our economy, Barack is thinking about folks like my dad and like his grandmother. He s thinking about the pride that comes from a hard day s work. That s why he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work. That s why he cut taxes for working families and small businesses and fought to get the auto industry back on its feet. That s how he brought our economy from the brink of collapse to creating jobs again jobs you can raise a family on, good jobs right here in the United States of America. when it comes to: rebuild: folks: pride: come from: a hard day s work: sign: Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act: 26
help...do: equal: cut tax: small business: fight to do: get...back on one s feet: auto industry: bring...from A to B: brink: collapse: create: job: 27
CD Track 11 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack When it comes to the health of our families, Barack refused to listen to all those folks who told him to leave health reform for another day, another president. He didn t care whether it was the easy thing to do politically. No, that s not how he was raised. He cared that it was the right thing to do. He...he did it because he believes that here in America, our grandparents should be able to afford their medicine; our kids should be able to see a doctor when they re sick; and no one in this country should ever go broke because of an accident or an illness. And he believes that women are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies and our health care. That s what my husband stands for. refuse to do: tell...to do: leave A for B: health reform: another day: politically: be able to afford: medicine: see a doctor: sick: 28
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CD Track 12 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack When it comes to giving our kids the education they deserve, Barack knows that like me and like so many of you, he never could ve attended college without financial aid. And believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bill was actually higher than our mortgage. Yeah, we...we were so young, so in love, and so in debt. And that s why Barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down, because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt. So in the end, for Barack, these issues aren t political. They re personal, because Barack knows what it means when a family struggles. He knows what it means to want something more for your kids and grandkids. Barack knows the American Dream because he s lived it. And he wants everyone in this country...everyone to have the same opportunity, no matter who we are or where we re from, or what we look like, or who we love. give A B: education: deserve: attend: financial aid: believe it or not: combined: monthly: mortgage: be in debt: increase: student aid: 30
interest rate: fulfill: a mountain of: in the end: political: personal: live the American Dream: opportunity: no matter who: no matter where: no matter what: 31
CD Track 13 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack And he believes that when you ve worked hard and done well and...and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. No, you reach back and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed. So when...when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, I...I can honestly say that when it comes to his character and his convictions and his heart, Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago. Yeah. He...he...he s the same man who...who started his career by turning down high-paying jobs and instead working in struggling neighborhoods where a steel plant had shut down, fighting to rebuild those communities and get folks back to work, because for Barack, success isn t about how much money you make, it s about the difference you make in people s lives. He...he s the same man...he s the same man, when our girls were first born, would anxiously check their cribs every few minutes to ensure that they were still breathing, proudly showing them off to everyone we knew. walke through: doorway: slam...shut: reach back: honestly: character: conviction: heart: fall in love with: all those years ago: turn down: high-paying: instead: struggling: 32
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CD Track 14 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack You see, that s the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, patiently answering questions about issues in the news, strategizing about middle-school friendships. That s the man I...I see in...in those quiet moments late at night, hunched over his desk, poring over the letters people have sent him the...the letter from the father struggling to pay his bills, from...from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won t cover her care, fro...from the young people with so much promise but so few opportunities. An...and I see the concern in his eyes and...and I hear the determination in his voice as he tells me, You won t believe what these folks are going through, Michelle. It s not right. We ve got to keep working to fix this. We ve got so much more to do. I see...i see how those stories...i see how those stories our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams I see how that s what drives Barack Obama every single day. strategize: middle-school: quiet: hunch over: pore over: (be) dying of: cancer: insurance company: cover: care: 34
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CD Track 15 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack And I didn t think that it was possible, but let me tell you, today I love my husband even more than I did four years ago, even more than I did 23 years ago when we first met. Let me tell you why. See, I...I love that he has never forgotten how he started. I...I...I love that we can trust Barack to do what he says he s going to do, even when it s hard...especially when it s hard. Yeah, I...I love that for Barack, there is no such thing as us and them. He doesn t care whether you re a Democrat, a Republican or none of the above. He knows that we all love our country, and he is always ready to listen to good idea. He s always looking for the very best in everyone he meets. And I...I love that, even in the toughest moments when we re all sweating it when...when we re worried that the bill won t pass and it seems like all is lost see, Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise. No, just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace. possible: let me tell you: forget: trust...to do: especially: Democrat: Republican: the above: be ready to do: look for: tough: sweat: 36
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CD Track 16 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack And...and he reminds me...he reminds me that we are playing a long game here, and that change is hard, and...and change is slow, and it never happens all at once. But eventually we get there, we always do. We...we get there because of folks like my dad, folks like Barack s grandmother, men and women who...who said to themselves, I may not have a chance to fulfill my dreams, but maybe my children will, maybe my grandchildren will. See...see, so many of us stand here tonight because of their sacrifice and longing and steadfast love, because time and again, they swallowed their fears and doubts and did what was hard. So today, when the challenges we face start to seem overwhelming or even impossible, let us never forget that doing the impossible is the history of this nation. It is who we are as Americans. It is how this country was built. And...and if...if our parents and grandparents could toil and...and struggle for us you know, if they could raise beams of steel to the sky, send a man to the moon, connect the world with the touch of a button then...then surely we can keep on sacrificing and building for our own kids and grandkids. Right? remind...that: happen all at once: eventually: get there: longing: steadfast: time and again: swallow: fear: doubt: 38
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CD Track 17 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack And...and if so many brave men and women could wear our country s uniform and sacrifice their lives for our most fundamental rights, then surely we can do our part as citizens of this great democracy to exercise those rights. Surely we can get to the polls on Election Day and make our voices heard. If...if...if farmers and...and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire, if...if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores, if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote, if a generation could defeat a depression and define greatness for all time, if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love, then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream. Because in the end...in the end, more than anything else, that is the story of this country the story of unwavering hope grounded in unyielding struggle. That is what has made my story and Barack s story and...and so many other American stories possible. brave: do one s part: democracy: exercise: the polls: Election Day: farmer: blacksmith: win independence from: empire: immigrant: leave behind: shores: drag A to B: jail: 40
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CD Track 18 FIRST LADY S SPEECH AT THE 2012 DNC: Meet My Barack And let me tell you something. I say all of this tonight not just as first lady, no, not just as a wife. You see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still mom-in-chief. My...my...my daughters are...are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world. But let me tell you, today, I have none of those worries from four years ago, no, not about whether Barack and I were doing what was best for our girls. Because today, I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters and...and for all of our sons and daughters, if...if we want to give all of our children a foundation for their dreams and opportunities worthy of their promise, if...if we want to give them that sense of limitless possibility that belief that here in America, there is always something better out there if you re willing to work for it then we must work like never before, and we must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward: my husband, our president, Barack Obama. Thank you, God bless you. God bless America. title: mom-in-chief: the heart of: heart: truly: 42
foundation: worthy of: limitless: belief: be willing to do: once again: stand together: move...forward: 43
Acceptance Speech: Our Path Leads to a Better Place (choice)
CD Track 20 ACCEPTANCE SPEECH: Our Path Leads to a Better Place Now, the first time I addressed this convention in 2004, I was a younger man; a Senate candidate from Illinois who spoke about hope not blind optimism, not wishful thinking, but hope in the face of difficulty; hope in the face of uncertainty; that dogged faith in the future which has pushed this nation forward, even when the odds are great, even when the road is long. Eight years later, that hope has been tested by the cost of war, by one of the worst economic crises in history, and by political gridlock that s left us wondering whether it s still even possible to tackle the challenges of our time. But when all is said and done, when you pick up that ballot to vote, you will face the clearest choice of any time in a generation. Over the next few years, big decisions will be made in Washington on jobs, the economy, taxes and deficits, energy, education, war and peace decisions that will have a huge impact on our lives and our children s lives for decades to come. And on every issue, the choice you face won t just be between two candidates or two parties it will be a choice between two different paths for America, a choice between two fundamentally different visions for the future. path: lead to: address: convention: Senate candidate: blind optimism: wishful thinking: in the face of: difficulty: uncertainty: dogged: faith in: push...forward: odds: 46
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CD Track 21 ACCEPTANCE SPEECH: Our Path Leads to a Better Place Now, I won t pretend the path I m offering is quick or easy. I never have. You didn t elect me to tell you what you wanted to hear. You elected me to tell you the truth. And the truth is, it will take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that have built up over decades. It will require a common effort and shared responsibility, and the kind of bold, persistent experimentation that Franklin Roosevelt pursued during the only crisis worse than this one. And by the way, those of us who carry on his party s legacy should remember that not every problem can be remedied with another government program or dictate from Washington. But know this, America: Our problems can be solved. Our challenges can be met. The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place. And I m asking you to choose that future. I m asking you to rally around a set of goals for your country goals in manufacturing, energy, education, national security and the deficit real, achievable plans that will lead to new jobs, more opportunity, and rebuild this economy on a stronger foundation. That s what we can do in the next four years, and that is why I am running for a second term as president of the United States. pretend that : quick: elect: solve: challenge: build up: require: common: effort: shared: responsibility: bold: persistent: experimentation: pursue: 48
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First Presidential Debate: Which Path Forward? 2012 3 10 3 1 16 2 22 3 2 1 PBS 2 CNN3 CBS 1
CD Track 23 FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: Which Path Forward? Barack Obama Governor Romney has a perspective that says if we cut taxes, skew towards the wealthy, and roll back regulations, that we ll be better off. I ve got a different view. I think we ve got to invest in education and training. I think it s important for us to develop new sources of energy here in America; that we change our tax code to make sure that we re helping small businesses and companies that are investing here in the United States; that we take some of the money that we re saving as we wind down two wars, to rebuild America; and that we reduce our deficit in a balanced way that allows us to make these critical investments. Now, it ultimately is going to be up to the voters to you which path we should take. Are we going to double-down on the top-down economic policies that g...helped to get us into this mess, or do we embrace a new economic patriotism that says America does best when the middle class does best? perspective: skew towards: the wealthy: roll back: regulation: be better off: view: invest in: tax code: small business: save: wind down: two wars: deficit: 52
balanced: allow...to do: critical: investment: ultimately: be up to: voter: double-down on: top-down: economic policy: mess: embrace: economic patriotism: the middle class: 53
CD Track 24 FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: Which Path Forward? Mitt Romney My plan has five basic parts. One: get us energy independent, North American energy independent. That creates about 4 million jobs. Number two: open up more trade, particularly in Latin America; crack down on China if and when they cheat. Number three: make sure our people have the skills they need to succeed and the best schools in the world. We re far away from that now. Number four: get us to a balanced budget. Number five: champion small business. It s small business that creates the jobs in America. And over the last four years, smallbusiness people have decided that America may not be the place to open a new business, because new business startups are down to a 30-year low. The president has a view very similar to the view he had when he ran four years ago: that a bigger government, spending more, taxing more, regulating more i...if you will, trickle-down government would work. That s not the right answer for America. I ll restore the vitality that gets America working again. energy independent: create: open up: particularly: crack down on: cheat: succeed: be far away from: budget: champion: open a business: startup: run: 54
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CD Track 25 FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: Which Path Forward? Obama And we do have a difference, though, when it comes to definitions of small business. Under my plan, 97 percent of small businesses would not see their income taxes go up. Governor Romney says, Well, those top 3 percent, they re the job creators; they d be burdened. But under Governor Romney s definition, there are a whole bunch of millionaires and billionaires who are small businesses. Donald Trump is a small business. And I know Donald Trump doesn t like to think of himself as small anything, but...but that s how you define small business is if you re getting business income. And that kind of approach, I believe, will not grow our economy. Because the only way to pay for it without either burdening the middle class or blowing up our deficit is to make drastic cuts in things like education, making sure that we are continuing to invest in basic science and research, all the things that are helping America grow. And I think that would be a mistake. when it comes to: definition: income tax: a bunch of: millionaire: billionaire: Donald Trump: define: 56
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CD Track 26 FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: Which Path Forward? Romney Mr. President, you re absolutely right, which is that...that...with regards to 97 percent of the businesses are not...not taxed at the 35 percent tax rate; they re taxed at a lower rate. But those businesses that are in the last 3 percent of businesses happen to employ half half of all of the people who work in small business. Those are the businesses that employ one-quarter of all the workers in America. And your plan is to take the tax rate on successful small businesses from 35 percent to 40 percent. The National Federation of Independent Businesses has said that will cost 700,000 jobs. I don t want to cost jobs. My priority is jobs. And so what I do is, I bring down the tax rates, lower deductions and exemptions the same idea behind Bowles-Simpson, by the way: get the rates down, lower deductions and exemptions to create more jobs. Because there s nothing better for getting us to a balanced budget than having more people working, earning more money, paying more taxes. That s by far the most effective and efficient way to get this budget balanced. absolutely: with regard to: tax rate: happen to do: employ: one-quarter: cost: priority: bring down: 58
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Victory Speech: The Best Is Yet to Come 11 6 22 23
CD Track 28 VICTORY SPEECH: The Best Is Yet to Come Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward. It moves forward because of you. It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression, the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope, the belief that, while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are an American family and we rise or fall together as one nation and as one people. Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that, while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come. be yet to come: former: colony: win the right to do: determine: destiny: task: perfect: union: move forward: because of: reaffirm: triumph over: depression: lift...from A to B: 62
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CD Track 29 VICTORY SPEECH: The Best Is Yet to Come I want to thank every American who participated in this election. Whether you voted for the very first time or waited in line for a very long time by the way, we have to fix that; whether you pounded the pavement or picked up the phone, whether you held an Obama sign or a Romney sign, you made your voice heard and you made a difference. I just spoke with Governor Romney, and I congratulated him and Paul Ryan on a hard-fought campaign. We may have battled fiercely, but it s only because we love this country deeply and we care so strongly about its future. From George to Lenore to their son Mitt, the Romney family has chosen to give back to America through public service. And that is a legacy that we honor and applaud tonight. In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward. I want to thank my friend and partner of the last four years, America s happy warrior, the best vice president anybody could ever hope for, Joe Biden. participate in: vote: for the very first time: wait in line: by the way: fix: pound the pavement: picke up the phone: hold a sign: make one s voice heard: make a difference: congratulate A on B: Paul Ryan: hard-fought: 64
fiercely: care about: George: Lenore: give back to: legacy: honor: applaud: look forward to doing: sit down with: happy warrior: 65
CD Track 30 VICTORY SPEECH: The Best Is Yet to Come And I wouldn t be the man I am today without the woman who agreed to marry me 20 years ago. Let me say this publicly. Michelle, I have never loved you more. I have never been prouder to watch the rest of America fall in love with you, too, as our nation s first lady. Sasha and Malia, before our very eyes, you re growing up to become two strong, smart, beautiful young women, just like your mom. And I am so proud of you guys. But I will say that, for now, one dog s probably enough. To the best campaign team and volunteers in the history of politics, the best...the best ever: Some of you were new this time around, and some of you have been at my side since the very beginning. But all of you are family. No matter what you do or where you go from here, you will carry the memory of the history we made together and you will have the life-long appre ciation of a grateful president. Thank you for believing all the way, to every hill, to every valley. You lifted me up the whole way, and I will always be grateful for everything that you ve done and all the incredible work that you ve put in. agree to do: publicly: be proud to do: the rest of: fall in love with: Sasha: Malia: before someone s very eyes: smart: you guys: for now: this time around: be at someone s side: 66
no matter what: carry the memory of: life-long: appreciation: grateful: all the way: hill: valley: lift...up: the whole way: incredible: put in: 67
CD Track 31 VICTORY SPEECH: The Best Is Yet to Come I know that political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even silly. And that provides plenty of fodder for the cynics, who tell us that politics is nothing more than a contest of egos or the domain of special interests. But if you ever get the chance to talk to folks who turned out at our rallies and crowded along a rope line in a high school gym, or...or saw folks working late at a campaign office in some tiny county far away from home, you ll discover something else. You ll hear the determination in the voice of a young field organizer, who s working his way through college and wants to make sure every child has that same opportunity. You ll hear the pride in the voice of a volunteer, who s going door to door because her brother was finally hired when the local auto plant added another shift. You ll hear the deep patriotism in the voice of a military spouse, who s working the phones late at night to make sure that no one who fights for this country ever has to fight for a job or a roof over their head when they come home. political campaign: silly: provide: plenty of: fodder: cynic: nothing more than: contest: domain: special interests: get the chance to: folks: turn out: rally: crowd: 68
gym: tiny: county: far away from: discover: determination: field organizer: work one s way through: make sure (that): auto plant: add: patriotism: spouse: roof over one s head: 69
CD Track 32 VICTORY SPEECH: The Best Is Yet to Come That s why we do this. That s what politics can be. That s why elections matter. It s not small, it s big. It s important. Democracy in a nation of 300 million can be noisy and messy and complicated. We have our own opinions. Each of us has deeply held beliefs. And when we go through tough times, when we make big decisions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy. That won t change after tonight. And it shouldn t. These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty, and we can never forget that as we speak, people in distant nations are risking their lives right now just for a chance to argue about the issues that matter, the chance to cast their ballots like we did today. But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America s future. We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have access to the best schools and the best teachers, a country that lives up to its legacy as the global leader in tech nology and discovery and innovation, with all the good jobs and new businesses that follow. matter: noisy: messy: complicated: opinion: go through: tough times: make a decision: stir: passion: stir up: controversy: argument: mark: liberty: 70
forget: distant: risk one s life: right now: argue about: issue: cast one s ballot: despite: share: certain: have access to: live up to: global: innovation: follow: 71
CD Track 33 VICTORY SPEECH: The Best Is Yet to Come We want our children to live in an America that isn t burdened by debt, that isn t weakened up by inequality, that isn t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet. We want to pass on a country that s safe and respected and admired around the world, a nation that is defended by the strongest military on earth and the best troops this...this world has ever known, but also a country that moves with confidence beyond this time of war to shape a peace that is built on the promise of freedom and dignity for every human being. We believe in a generous America, in a compassionate America, in a tolerant America open to the dreams of an immigrant s daughter who studies in our schools and pledges to our flag, to the young boy on the south side of Chicago who sees a life beyond the nearest street corner, to the furniture worker s child in North Carolina who wants to become a doctor or a scientist, an engineer or an entrepreneur, a diplomat or even a president. That s the fu...that s the future we hope for. That s the vision we share. That s where we need to go: forward. That s where we need to go. be burdened by: debt: weaken...up: inequality: be threatened by: destructive: planet: pass on: respected: admired: defend: on earth: troops: move beyond: with confidence: 72
73 shape: promise: dignity: human being: believe in: generous: compassionate: tolerant: immigrant: pledge to: flag: furniture worker: entrepreneur: diplomat: forward:
CD Track 34 VICTORY SPEECH: The Best Is Yet to Come Now, we will disagree, sometimes fiercely, about how to get there. As it has for more than two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts. It s not always a straight line. It s not always a smooth path. By itself, the recognition that we have common hopes and dreams won t end all the gridlock, resolve all our problems or substitute for the painstaking work of building consensus and making the difficult compromises needed to move this country forward. But that common bond is where we must begin. Our economy is recovering. A decade of war is ending. A long campaign is now over. And whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you. I have learned from you. And you ve made me a better president. And with your stories and your struggles, I return to the White House more determined and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do and the future that lies ahead. disagree about: as it has for: progress: in fits and starts: straight line: smooth: path: by oneself: recognition: end: gridlock: resolve: substitute for: 74
painstaking: build consensus: make a compromise: bond: recover: decade: be over: earn: struggle: determined: inspired: lie ahead: 75
CD Track 35 VICTORY SPEECH: The Best Is Yet to Come Tonight you voted for action, not politics as usual. You elected us to focus on your jobs, not ours. And in the coming weeks and months, I am looking forward to reaching out and working with leaders of both parties to meet the challenges we can only solve together reducing our deficit, reforming our tax code, fixing our immigration system, freeing ourselves from foreign oil. We ve got more work to do. But that doesn t mean your work is done. The role of citizen in our democracy does not end with your vote. America s never been about what can be done for us; it s about what can be done by us together, through the hard and frustrating but necessary work of self-government. That s the principle we were founded on. This country has more wealth than any nation, but that s not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military in history, but that s not what makes us strong. Our university, our culture are all the envy of the world, but that s not what keeps the world coming to our shores. vote for: as usual: elect...to do: focus on: reach out: meet the challenge: solve: reduce: deficit: reform: tax code: 76
immigration system: free: foreign: role: frustrating: self-government: principle: be founded on: wealth: envy: shores: 77
CD Track 36 VICTORY SPEECH: The Best Is Yet to Come What makes America exceptional are the bonds that hold together the most diverse nation on earth the belief that our destiny is shared, that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations, so that the freedom which so many Americans have fought for and died for comes with responsibilities as well as rights, and among those are love and charity and duty and patriotism. That s what makes America great. I am hopeful tonight because I have seen this spirit at work in America. I ve seen it in the family business whose owners would rather cut their own pay than lay off their neighbors and in the workers who would rather cut back their hours than see a friend lose a job. I ve seen it in the soldiers who re-enlist after losing a limb and in those SEALs who charged up the stairs into darkness and danger because they knew there was a buddy behind them watching their back. I ve seen it on the shores of New Jersey and New York, where leaders from every party and level of government have swept aside their differences to help a community rebuild from the wreckage of a terrible storm. exceptional: hold together: diverse: accept: obligation: to one another: die for: come with: A as well as B: charity: duty: hopeful: at work: family business: 78
would rather...than: lay off: cut back: soldier: re-enlist: limb: SEAL: charge up: buddy: watch someone s back: sweep aside: wreckage: 79
CD Track 37 VICTORY SPEECH: The Best Is Yet to Come And I saw it just the other day in Mentor, Ohio, where a father told the story of his 8-year-old daughter whose long battle with leukemia nearly cost their family everything had it not been for health care reform passing just a few months before the insurance company was about to stop paying for her care. I had an opportunity to not just talk to the father but meet this incredible daughter of his. And when he spoke to the crowd, listening to that father s story, every parent in that room had tears in their eyes because we knew that little girl could be our own. And I know that every American wants her future to be just as bright. That s who we are. That s the country I m so proud to lead as your president. And tonight, despite all the hardship we ve been through, despite all the frustrations of Washington, I ve never been more hopeful about our future. I have never been more hopeful about America. And I ask you to sustain that hope. the other day: battle with: leukemia: nearly: cost A B: had it not been for: health care reform: pass: insurance company: be about to do: 80
care: crowd: have tears in one s eyes: bright: (be) proud to: hardship: frustration: be hopeful about: sustain: 81
CD Track 38 VICTORY SPEECH: The Best Is Yet to Come I m not talking about blind optimism, the kind of hope that just ignores the enormity of the tasks ahead or the road blocks that stand in our path. I m not talking about the wishful idealism that allows us to just sit on the sidelines or shirk from a fight. I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. America, I believe we can build on the progress we ve made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunity and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founding the idea that if you re willing to work hard, it doesn t matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love. It doesn t matter whether you re black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, abled, disabled, gay or straight. You can make it here in America if you re willing to try. blind optimism: ignore: enormity: task: road block: stand in someone s path: wishful: idealism: allow...to do: sit on the sidelines: shirk from: stubborn: insist that: evidence: 82
to the contrary: await: have the courage to do: make progress: founding: be willing to do: Hispanic: abled: disabled: gay: straight: make it: 83
CD Track 39 VICTORY SPEECH: The Best Is Yet to Come I believe we can seize this future together, because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. We re not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and forever will be, the United States of America. And together, with your help and God s grace, we will continue our journey forward and remind the world just why it is that we live in the greatest nation on earth. Thank you, America. God bless you. God bless these United States. seize: divided: suggest: cynical: pundit: sum of: individual: ambition: remain: red state: 84
blue state: forever: remind...why: grace: bless: 85
Thank You Speech to Campaign Staff: Heartfelt Gratitude
CD Track 41 THANK YOU SPEECH TO CAMPAIGN STAFF: Heartfelt Gratitude You know, I try to picture myself when I was your age, and...and I first moved to Chicago at the age of 25, and I had this vague inkling about making a difference. I didn t really know how to do it. I didn t have a structure. And there...there wasn t a...a presidential campaign at the time that I could attach myself to. Ronald Reagan had just been re-elected and...and was incredibly popular. And so I...I came to Chicago, knowing that somehow I wanted to make sure that my life attached itself to helping kids get a great education or helping people living in...in poverty to get decent jobs and be able to work and...and...and have dignity, to make sure that, you know, people didn t have to go to the emergency room to get health care. thank you speech: campaign: heartfelt: gratitude: picture: move to: vague: inkling: make a difference: structure: presidential campaign: attach oneself to: 88
Ronald Reagan: be re-elected: incredibly: popular: somehow: make sure that: poverty: decent: dignity: emergency room: health care: 89
CD Track 42 THANK YOU SPEECH TO CAMPAIGN STAFF: Heartfelt Gratitude And I ended up being a community organizer out on the south side of Chicago...for a group of churches who were willing to hire me. And I didn t know at all what I was doing. And, you know, the...the work that I did in...in those communities changed me much more than I changed the communities. It...because it...it taught me the hopes and aspirations and the grit and resilience of ordinary people, and it taught me the fact that under the...the surface differences we all have common hopes and we all have common dreams. And it taught me something about how I handled disappointment and what it meant to work hard on a common endeavor, and I grew up and I became a man during that process. And so when I come here and I look at all of you, what comes to mind is...is it s not that you guys actually remind me of myself; it s the fact that you are so much better than I was in so many ways. You re...you re smarter, and you re better organized, and you...you re more effective, and so I m absolutely confident that all of you are going to do just amazing things in your lives. end up doing: community organizer: be willing to do: hire: aspiration: grit: resilience: ordinary: the fact that: surface: common: handle: disappointment: 90