第一篇:米歇尔为奥巴马连任竞选所做的演讲综述
米歇尔.奥巴马在DNC美国民主党代表大会的演讲完整视频及演讲稿 kira86 于2012-09-06发布 l 已有18385人浏览增大字体
减小字体
小E英语:内容/平台运营招聘外教任意选,每天陪你练口语公交车上也能听英语英语口语8000句
美国第一夫人Michelle Obama在民主党全国大会DNC上的演说视频完整版及英语演讲稿。米歇尔一展母仪天下风范,0
Transcript of first lady Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention, as prepared for delivery: First lady Michelle Obama speaks at the Democratic National Convention in
Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday
第一夫人米歇尔奥巴马国会演讲.jpg
美国第一夫人Michelle Obama在民主党全国大会DNC上的演说视频完整版及英语演讲稿。米歇尔一展母仪天下风范,现场观众欢呼的欢呼,鼓掌的鼓掌,抽泣的抽泣,抹泪的抹泪,感动的噼里啪啦一塌糊涂。这个“皇后”确实可以对内对外。精辟的话如“今天,当我们面对的挑战显得铺天盖地——甚至无法战胜的时候——让我们永远不要忘记,行不可能之事正是这个国家的历史,这是我们美国人的根性,这是我们的立国之本。”
米歇尔·奥巴马在美国民主党代表大会上的演讲英语演讲稿:
Thank you so much, Elaine...we are so grateful for your family's service and sacrifice...and we will always have your back.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 incredible kindness and warmth that people have shown me and my family, especially our girls.I've seen it in teachers in a near-bankrupt school district who vowed to keep teaching without pay.I've seen it 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 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.”
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.非常感谢你,伊莲……我们很感激您的家庭服务和牺牲……我们总是会有你的背部。
作为第一夫人在过去的几年中,我有非凡的特权在这个国家旅行。无论我走了,在我见过的人,和我听说的故事,我看到了最好的美国精神。我已经看到它在不可思议的善良和温暖,我和我的家人,特别是我们的女孩。我看到在一家濒临破产的学区教师谁发誓要保持教学但不付薪水的实习工作。我看过它的人成为英雄即刻,深入的挽救他人……全国各地飞往灭火……开车几个小时救助淹没城镇。我看到在我们的男女军人和骄傲的军人家庭……在受伤的战士,他们告诉我,他们不是去走路了,他们要跑,要跑马拉松…在年轻人的一枚炸弹在阿富汗人说,简单地说,“…我会给我的眼睛再次100倍,有机会做我所做,我还能做什么。” 每一天,我遇见的人激励着我……每一天,他们让我自豪……他们每天提醒我我们是多么幸福生活在这个地球上最伟大的国家。
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.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?
Our life before moving to Washington 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.And the truth is, I loved the life we had built for our girls...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 though back then Barack was a Senator and a presidential candidate...to me, he was still the guy who'd picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted out, I could actually see the pavement going by through 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 half a size too small.But when Barack started telling me about his family – 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.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 knew there were plenty of days when he was in pain...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, 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 stand at the top of the stairs to 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.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 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 as I got to know Barack, I realized that even though he'd grown up all the way across the country, he'd been brought up just like me.Barack was raised by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills, and by grandparents who stepped in when she needed help.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 she would often tell Barack, “So long as you kids do well, Bar, that's all that really matters.”
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 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, then you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids.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 learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters...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 Barack and I – and so many of you – are trying to pass on to our own children.That's who we are.And standing before you four years ago, I knew that I didn't want any of that to change if Barack became President.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 – it reveals who you are.You see, 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 – 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 can 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.So 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 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 – that's not how he was raised – he cared that it was the right thing to do.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 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.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 bills were actually higher than our mortgage.We were so young, so in love, and so in debt.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 to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we're from, or what we look like, or who we love.And he believes that when you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity...you do not slam it shut behind you...you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.So when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, 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.He's the same man 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's the same man who, when our girls were first born, would anxiously check their cribs every few minutes to ensure they were still breathing, proudly showing them off to everyone we knew.That's the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, patiently answering their questions about issues in the news, and strategizing about middle school friendships.That's the man I see in those quiet moments late at night, hunched over his desk, poring over the letters people have sent him.The letter from the father struggling to pay his bills...from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won't cover her care...from the young person with so much promise but so few opportunities.I see the concern in his eyes...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 how those stories – our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams – I see how that's what drives Barack Obama every single day.And I didn't think it was possible, but 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.I love that he's never forgotten how he started.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.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's always ready to listen to good ideas...he's always looking for the very best in everyone he meets.And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we're all sweating it – when we're worried that the bill won't pass, and it seems like all is lost – Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.Just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward...with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace.And he reminds me that we are playing a long game here...and that change is hard, and change is slow, and it never happens all at once.But eventually we get there, we always do.We get there because of folks like my Dad...folks like Barack's grandmother...men and women who said to themselves, “I may not have a chance to fulfill my dreams, but maybe my children will...maybe my grandchildren will.”
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's who we are as Americans...it's how this country was built.And if our parents and grandparents could toil and struggle for us...if they could raise beams of steel to the sky, send a man to the moon, and connect the world with the touch of a button...then surely we can keep on sacrificing and building for our own kids and grandkids.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 and make our voices heard on Election Day.If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire...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, 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 so many other American stories possible.And I say all of this tonight not just as First Lady...and not just as a wife.You see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still “mom-in-chief.”
My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world.But today, I have none of those worries from four years ago about whether Barack and I were doing what's best for our girls.Because today, I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters, and all our sons and daughters...if we want to give all our children a foundation for their dreams and opportunities worthy of their promise...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, President Barack Obama.Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.
第二篇:奥巴马连任演讲
非常感谢你们。
今夜,在当年的殖民地赢得了决定自己命运的权利200多年以后,让美利坚合众国更加完美的任务又向前推进了一步。
这一进程是因为你们而向前推进的,因为你们再次确认了那种使美国胜利克服了战争和萧条的精神,那种使美国摆脱绝望的深渊并走向希望的最高点的精神,以及那种虽然我们每个人都在追求自己的个人梦想、但我们同属一个美国大家庭、并作为一个国家和民族共同进退的信仰。
今夜,在此次选举中,你们这些美国人民提醒我们,虽然我们的道路一直艰难,虽然我们的旅程一直漫长,但我们已经让自己振作起来,我们已经发起反击,我们在自己内心深处知道,对美利坚合众国来说,最美好一切属于未来。
我想感谢所有参加此次选举的美国人,无论你是首次参加选举还是为投票曾长时间排队等候。顺便说一句,我们需要解决这些问题。无论你是到投票站投票还是发传真投票,无论你选的是奥巴马还是罗姆尼,你都让别人听到了自己的声音,你都让美国因你而不同。
我要对罗姆尼州长说几句话,我对他和保罗?莱恩在这次竞争激烈的选举中的表现表示祝贺。我们可能争夺得很激烈,但这仅仅是因为我们深爱着这个国家以及我们如此强烈地关心着它的未来。从乔治到勒诺到他们的儿子米特,罗姆尼家族选择了通过公共服务来回报美国,那是一种我们今夜表示敬重和赞许的遗产。我期待着今后几周能与罗姆尼州长坐下来讨论一下我们可以从何处着手一起努力将美国推向前进。
我想对我在过去四年中的朋友和伙伴表示感谢。他就是美国的快乐战士、无出其右的最佳副总统乔?拜登。
如果不是那位20年前同意嫁给我的女性,我不会成为今天的我。请让我公开说出下面这段话:米切尔,我对你的爱无以复加,我无比骄傲地看到其他美国人也爱上了你这位我们国家的第一夫人。萨沙和玛利亚,在我们所有人的见证下你们正成长为两个坚强、聪明和美丽的年轻女性,就像你们的妈妈一样。我十分以你们为荣。不过我要说的是,眼下家里养一条狗或许已经够了。
在这个有史以来的最佳竞选团队和有史以来的最佳志愿者队伍中,你们有些人是这次新加入进来的,有些人则是一开始就在我身边。但你们所有人都属于一个大家庭。无论你的工作是什么,无论你从哪里来,你们都将获得我们共同创造的历史记忆,你们都将被一位充满感激之情的总统终生感激。感谢你们始终充满信心,无论是在高峰还是在低谷。你们鼓舞着我走完整个选举过程,我对你们所做的每件事、你们所做的每项不可思议的工作将一直充满感激。
我知道政治角力有时会显得小家子气甚至愚蠢。它为愤世嫉俗者提供了足够的口实,他们告诉我们政治不过是自负者之间的竞争,是特殊利益集团的地盘。但如果你曾经有机会与参加我们集会的那些人以及高中体育馆内挤在隔离绳外的那些人攀谈,或者看到那些在远离家乡的偏远小县的竞选办公室内加班工作的人,你会发现一些别的东西。你将从一位年轻的活动现场组织者的声音里听到他的决心,他边在大学里学习边从事助选工作,他希望确保每个孩子都能拥有同样的机会。你将从一位志愿者的声音里听到她的骄傲,她挨门动员选民是因为她哥哥终因当地一家汽车制造厂增加了一个班次而有了工作。你将从一对军人夫妇的声音里听到深深的爱国情怀。他们深夜时还在接听选举电话,以确保那些曾经为这个国家作战的人不会返回家园时还要为得到一份工作或栖身之所而苦苦争斗。
正因为如此,我们要进行选举。这是政治所能够实现的。正因为如此,选举很重要。这不是小事,而是大事,是至关重要的事。在一个有三亿人口的国家实行民主制度可能嘈杂不堪、一团混乱、情况复杂。我们有自己的观点。我们每个人都有自己深信的信仰。当我们经历艰难时期,当我们作为一个国家做出重大决定时,这必然会激发热情,也必然会引发争议。
今晚过后,这都不会改变,也不应该改变。我们进行的这些争论恰恰体现了我们的自由。我们永远不应忘记,就在我们讲话之际,遥远国度的人们现在正冒着生命危险,仅仅是为了获得一个能够对重要问题进行争论、像我们今天这样投票的机会。
不过,尽管我们存在这样那样的分歧,我们大多数人都对美国的未来有着某些共同的希望。我们希望我们的孩子成长的国家能够让他们上最好的学校、接受最好老师的教导。一个无愧于全球技术、探索和创新领袖光辉历史的国家,倘能如此,各种好工作和新企业将随之而来。
我们希望我们的孩子能够生活在一个没有债务之累、没有不公之苦、没有全球变暖带来的破坏之虞的美国。我们希望留给后代一个安全、受到全球尊重和赞赏的国家,一个由全球有史以来最强大的军事力量和最好的部队保卫的国家,一个满怀信心走过战争、在人人享有自由和尊严的承诺之上构建和平的国家。
我们坚信一个慷慨的美国、一个富有同情心的美国、一个宽容的美国。美国向一位移民的女儿的梦想打开了大门,让她有机会在我们的学校学习、对着我们的国旗宣誓;美国向芝加哥南部地区的一个小男孩打开了大门,让有机会他看到一个最近街角以外的远大人生;美国向北卡罗来纳州的一位家具工人的孩子打开了大门,让他有机会实现自己当医生或科学家、工程师或企业家、外交官甚至是总统的梦想,这是我们希望的未来。这是我们共同的愿景。这是我们奔赴的方向,向前的方向。这是我们需要实现的目标。
现在,我们对如何实现这一目标存在分歧,有时分歧还很严重。正如两个多世纪以来一样,进展的取得将是断断续续,并非总是一条直线,并非总是一帆风顺。
承认我们拥有共同的希望和梦想,仅凭这一点不会结束所有的僵局,或解决我们所有的问题,或代替推动这个国家向前所需的达成共识和做出艰难让步的辛苦努力。不过,这一共同的纽带是我们必须开始的地方。
我们的经济正在好转。长达10年的战争即将结束。一场漫长的竞选现已落幕。无论我是否赢得了你们的选票,我一直在倾听你们的故事,向你们学习,是你们使我成为一位更好的总统。听过你们的故事和困难经历,我在重返白宫时对今后需要做的工作和未来将怀着比以往更坚定的决心和更大的热情。
今晚你们把票投给了行动,而不是像以往投给了政治。你们选举我们来专注于你们的工作,而不是我们的工作。在未来的几周和几个月内,我将期待与两党领袖接触并合作,以便面对我们团结一致才能解决的问题。减少赤字,改革税法,修改移民制度,摆脱对外国石油的依赖。我们还很更多工作要做。
但这并不意味着你们的工作就此结束。民主国家公民的角色并不随着投票完结而结束。美国看重的从来都不是能够为我们个人做些什么,而是我们团结一致通过自治这一艰难、令人倍感挫折但必要的工作能够实现什么。这正是我们的立国之本。
美国的财富多于世界上任何其他国家,但真正让我们富有的并非金钱;我们拥有有史以来最强大的军力,但真正让我们充满力量的并非军队;我们的大学和文化为全世界所艳羡,但美国真正吸引各国人踏上这片土地的魅力也不在于此。
真正让美国与众不同的,是将这个地球上最多元化的国家的人民团结到一起的那些纽带。是我们共命运的信念,是只有当我们肩负某些对彼此以及对后代的责任美国才能走下去的信念,是无数的美国人前赴后继为之奋斗的自由──它既赋予了我们权利,也给我们带来了责任;是爱、慈善、义务和爱国。正是这些让美国变得伟大。
今晚,我满怀希望,因为我已经看到美国精神正在得以发扬。我看到有些家族企业,所有者宁可减少自己的薪酬也不愿让邻居丢掉工作;我看到有些工人宁愿缩减自己的工时也不愿看到朋友没有活干;我看到有些士兵在失去一条腿或胳膊之后又选择再次入伍;我看到海豹突击队员不避危险冲上楼梯、冲入黑暗,因为他们知道有一个兄弟在做他的后盾。
在新泽西和纽约的海岸,我也看到了美国精神。每一个政党和各级政府的领导者都捐弃分歧,为在骇人风暴过后的废墟上重建社区各尽己力。就在不久前的一天,在俄亥俄的门托,我看到一位父亲在讲述他8岁女儿的故事。这个女孩与白血病进行了长期的斗争,如果不是因为几个月前通过的医改法案,保险公司就会停止支付医疗费用,他们的家庭就将失去一切。
我曾有机会与这位父亲攀谈,不仅如此,我还见到了他的女儿,这个非常了不起的小姑娘。当这位父亲向倾听他的故事的人讲述时,每一位在场的父母的眼里都含着泪水,因为我们知道,我们自己的孩子也有可能遇到这种状况。而且我知道,每一位美国人都希望这位小女孩的未来能像所有人的未来一样光明。这就是美国人,这就是美国,我为自己能够成为这个国家的总统、带领这个国家前行感到无比光荣。
今晚,尽管我们遭遇了很多困难,尽管华盛顿有诸多不尽人意之处,我仍从未像现在这样对未来充满希望。我从未像现在这样对美国充满希望。我请大家也保持这样的希望。我所说的并非盲目的乐观主义,不是那种看不到眼前的任务有多么艰巨、看不到前行的路上有什么样的障碍的希望;我所说的并非作壁上观或是临战退缩的一厢情愿的理想主义。
我一直相信,所谓希望就是我们内心倔强地坚持的力量,相信不管有多少相反的证据,都要相信有更好的东西在等着我们,只要我们有勇气不断前行、不懈工作、不停战斗。
国民们,我相信我们有能力在已经取得的进步的基础上再进一步,继续为了给中产阶级创造新的工作、新的机遇、新的保障而战斗。我相信我们有能力信守开国者们许下的诺言,信守这样一种理念,那就是不管你是谁,不管你来自哪里,不管你长相如何,不管你爱着哪个地方,你所需要做的就是努力工作。不管你的肤色是黑是白,不管你是拉美裔、亚裔还是美国原住民,不管你年轻还是年老,富有还是贫穷,身体健全或是残障,同性恋还是异性恋,只要你愿意努力,就能够在美国大有作为。
我相信我们有能力共同握住这样的未来,因为美国人民并不像政界那么严重分歧。美国人民不像某些饱学之士所认为的那样愤世嫉俗。美国的抱负并不是每一个美国人的抱负的简单加总,美国也不是红州和蓝州的简单联合。我们是美利坚合众国,我们将永远是美利坚合众国。
有你们的帮助,有上帝的仁慈,我们将继续携手前行,让全世界知道我们生活在全球最伟大的国度的原因到底是什么。
谢谢你,国民们,上帝保佑你们,上帝保佑美国。来源:华尔街日报中文
罗姆尼失败演讲 谢谢大家。
我刚刚致电奥巴马总统,祝贺他赢得了大选。
我还要祝贺他的支持者和他的竞选团队。我向他们所有人表示祝贺,但尤其要祝贺奥巴马总统、第一夫人和他们的两个女儿。
眼下美国正面临着巨大的挑战,我祈祷奥巴马总统能成功地引导我们的国家。
我要感谢保罗?瑞安(Paul Ryan)为我们的选举团队和我们的国家所做的一切。除我的太太安(Ann)外,保罗是我做出的最好选择。我坚信他的学识、他的勤勉和他坚持原则的作风将继续为我们国家的利益做出贡献。
我还要感谢安,我一生的爱人。若有机会,她会是一位很棒的第一夫人。对我、我的家人和她用自己的同情和关爱感动的许多人来说,她一直是一个很棒的人。
我要感谢我的儿子们为竞选付出的不懈努力,感谢他们的妻儿在他们长时间不在家时把家照顾得很好。
我要感谢马特?罗迪斯(Matt Rhoades)和他所领导的全心投入的竞选团队。他们做出了非凡的努力,不止是为我,也是为了我们所热爱的国家。
我还要感谢今晚在这里的你们,感谢全国各地的团队──志愿者、筹款者、捐款者和代理人。我相信,你们过去这些年付出的努力是我们党有史以来都难以匹敌的。非常感谢大家。
感谢你们辛勤工作、耐心致电、听我演讲、参加我的竞选集会,感谢你们提供资源和为我们做的祈祷。你们全心付出,表现非凡。你们给了我们灵感,令我们相形见绌。你们是我们能够想像的最棒的。众所周知,美国正处于一个关键时刻。像这样的时候,我们不能冒党派纷争和政治宣传的危险。我们的领导人必须联合两党为人民办事。我们美国公民也必须在这个时候站出来。
我们依靠我们的教师和教授,你们不止教书育人,还会启发我们的孩子求知和探索的热情。我们依靠我们的牧师、神父、拉比和各种辅导人员来证明我们社会所依据的持久原则:诚实、仁爱、正直、爱家。我们依靠我们的父母,因为最终一切都取决于我们家庭的成功。我们依靠各种创造就业岗位的人。我们依靠你们去投资、招聘、向前走。我们依靠政府各级民主党和共和党人士将人民的利益放在政治利益之上。
我信任美国。我信任美国人民。我参加竞选是因为我关心美国的前途命运。竞选虽已结束,但我们的原则将保持下去。我相信,这个国家创立时的那些原则是通向经济复苏和重现往日辉煌的唯一确实指引。
和你们大家一样,保罗和我都倾尽了全力。我们将一切都献给了此次竞选。
我多么希望我能够实现你们的希望,带领这个国家朝着一个不同的方向前进,但这个国家选择了另外一位领导人。所以,安和我与你们大家一起真诚地为他和这个伟大的国家祈祷。
感谢大家,上帝保佑美国。你们是最棒的。非常感谢。谢谢。谢谢大家。? 来源:华尔街中文
第三篇:奥巴马连任演讲
奥巴马连选演讲
谢谢,非常感谢。今晚,是在一个殖民地赢得它自主权200多年之后,我们来到这里,不断前行,这主要是因为你们坚信这个国家能够实现永恒的希望,实现移民想的梦想,我们是一个大家庭,我们共同以一个国家,一个民族奋斗。
我要感谢每位参加这次选举的人,不管你是从第一天就投票了,还是一直等待了很长的时间才投的票。当然了,我们要解决这个排队投票的问题。不管你是自己上门投的票,还是打电话投的票,不管你是投了给我,还是投给罗姆尼,你的声音都被大家听到了,并且你对我们国家做出了某些改变,刚刚我跟罗姆尼通了电话,我祝贺他在这个艰难卓绝的战役当中所取得的胜利。(对选民的尊重与感谢)
我们这场战役是十分激烈,但是这正是因为我们深爱着这个国家,并且我们十分在意他的未来。从罗姆尼整个家庭,孙子辈,孩子辈,整个家庭都献给了美国,这种精神我们将永远铭记。未来这几周我也希望和罗姆尼一起来讨论怎么样使我们的国家不断前进。我要感谢我的朋友,我的搭档,这是我四年来最好的搭档,也是美国历史上最好的副总统John baidn(音,校对)如果没有他,今天我就不会站在这里,如果没有20年前跟我结婚的妻子,今天我就不会站在这里。我要跟大家说,妻子,我比以前更加爱你,我更加自豪,因为我看到全国人民也十分热爱你这位第一夫人,我感到十分自豪。(竞争者与支持者的评价)
对我的女儿,两位女儿,你们一天天在成长,你们成为了两位向你们的妈妈一样的淑女、美丽,有才华,我也为你们感到骄傲,但是目前我觉得给你们养一条宠物狗就够了。我还要感谢我的竞选团队和志愿者,他们是历史上最棒的。他们是最好的,最棒的,而且是史上最棒的。有些人是第一次来听我的演说,有些人四年前就听了我的获胜演说,但是每个人对我来讲都是我的一分子,不管你做了什么,不管你去了哪里,你一定会记得我们今天晚上所创的历史,你会一生都感激今天晚上的时刻,而且你们会一直记得有一个心怀感激的总统,我要感谢你们所做的每一件事情,正是因为有了你们,我才会一路坚持下来。我对此将永远感谢,不管你做的什么,你们所做的一切我都心怀感激,并且永远鸣谢。
我知道这些政治的竞选,可能有的时候看起来很愚蠢,而且我们也听到很多人跟我们讲政治有的时候十分愚蠢,可能他只是利益的追求和冲突,但是如果你们真的有机会去机会和竞选活动上和人们谈论一些问题,或者你看到一些竞选团队,非常辛勤工作的志愿者们,你们的印象会有所改观,因为你们能听到这些年轻的组织者他们的决心,你能够看到他们在面临这个机会的时候,是有多大的决心。你还会听到群众,还有志愿者,他们上门挨家挨户的进行竞选。你也会听到我们深深的爱国情绪在针对的成员的爱国情绪,因为我们相信那些曾经为我们国家抛头颅撒洒血的军队,他们不应该在工作上遇到任何问题,这就是为什么我们要进行大选。(竞选团队与支持者的感谢)
这并不是一件小事实,这是至关重要的事。举足轻重的事,我们国家的民主,我们3亿人民的民主的情绪可能十分复杂,可能十分混乱,每个人可能都有自己的观点,每个人都
有自己深深的信仰,但是在我们经过艰难时刻的时候,当我们做出艰难的抉择时,我们很自然会有冲突,会有情感的表达。但是我认为它不应当影响我们今晚的表现,我们有的争论是民主的象征,而且我们不应当忘记在世界上很多别的国家,他们都正在为自由言论,自由讨论民主这样的权利所奋斗,所努力。
尽管我们有许多不同,我们中的大部分对美国的未来都有共同的希望,我们希望我们的孩子能够上最好的学校,接受最好的教育,我们希望整个国家能够延续我们的遗产,促进科技的发展,就业的发展和商业的发展。我们希望孩子们不是负债累累,而是面对高质量的国家,他们不会受到恐怖力量的威胁。我们希望传递安全有尊严的国家,并且受别人尊重的国家,这个国家是由最强的军事力量所定义,并且最安全定义的过程。与此同时我们也希望自己的国家,有信心,并且能够不断推动每个人的自由、繁荣和发展,我们相信美国的慷慨,美国的宽容、包容,美国的自由和开放,我们将伸开双手迎接移民的美国人民,我们会欢迎他们的子孙后代来到美国。我们相信在芝加哥任何一个孩子都可以看到他的希望,在北卡州那些想要成为科学家和医生的学生,想要成为工程师,甚至是总统的学生,这是我们共同要争取的未来,这是我们共同分享的愿景,这也是我们前进的方向。(认识、理解和尊重民愿)
我们有的时候会对于怎么样向前进有非常强烈的分歧,200年来,大家知道我们的进步一直不是直线的,也不是一帆风顺,我们伴随着很多分歧和不同,我们随着有很好的希望和梦想,但是很多时候我们要付出艰苦卓绝的努力才可以达到目标,我们也需要进行妥协才可以使国家前进。但是我们的共识是我们的起点,现在经济正处于复苏期间,我们的十年的战争也已经结束了,我们的竞选也已经将告尾声,不管我没有当选,我听到了你们的声音,你们使我成为最好的。(认识国民的评价)
今晚,你投给的不是政治,而是我们的行动。但是因为大家,我们才能关注你们的工作,而不是我们的工作,而在未来的几个月当中,我会期待和我们两党的领导人一起来共同寻求那些我们只有共同努力才能解决的矛盾的问题,比如说我们的税法,我们的移民,我们的工作,还有我们对进口石油的依赖这些问题,我都会寻求各种解决之道。但是这不意味着你们的工作就结束了,我们所有的公民,所有的同胞们,你们不是说投了票就轻松了你们的任务就没有了,你们一定要问问自己,不是美国能为你们做什么,而是我能为美国做什么,我们要进行自我治理,自我约束,这是我们的原则,也是我们建国的理念。(总统理念)
我们这个国家是世界上最富有的国家,但是这并不是让我们每个人更富有,虽然我们的军队十分强大,但是我们的个人并不强大,我们的大学、我们的文化,虽然是全球最优秀的,但是却并不是说我们就是全球最优秀的。是因为我们是一个多民族的国家,多样性的国家,但是在这样多样性的国家当中我们有共同的愿景和共识,并且我们的子孙后代会给他们更多的公民和自由,我们的子女后代必将获得更多的尊严,更多的爱护和尊敬。而且相信子孙后代只有他们正直,他们爱国,辛勤劳动才会使我们的美国变得更为强大。(国爱民、民爱国)
我今天晚上充满了希望,因为我看到我们这些美国劳动人民的精神,还看到了那些商业人士你们所做的工作,提供了很多工作机会,而且我还看到那些失业的人民得到了帮助,我看到战士们,他们再次征兵,而且我还看到战士们他们仍然守卫着我们的国家,因为他们也知道我们在支持着他们。我还看到新泽西纽约每个政党的领导人,都开始抛开他们的旗舰,来探讨怎么从桑迪中重建我们的家园。我们还看到俄亥俄州一个父亲说他有一个八岁的女
儿,她的肺病使他的家庭一贫如洗,他们之前并没有得到医疗保障的保护,但是几个月之前他开始得到了医疗保险,这对他们来讲是非常好的消息。(民意的反映)
我和这位父亲,还有他的女儿都见面了,他对于群众说,他对大家说,当他说的时候,在场所有的父母都落泪了,因为我们知道,他的女儿也可能是我们的女儿,我们都希望自己的孩子未来充满光芒,这是每个父母的希望,这是我身为总统引以为豪的。今晚尽管我们经历了这么多的困难,尽管我们经历了这么多的挫折,我对于未来却格外充满希望,我对于未来格外充满希望,对于美国格外充满希望,我希望大家延续这种希望,我这里讲的并不是盲目的乐观,指的是我们对未来的挑战,忽视未来的挑战,我也不是说的天真或者理想化的乐观的情绪,我真正的希望,不管我们遇到多少的挫折,多少的困难,只有我们内心坚定的希望,才是我们保持不断努力、不断斗争,不断勇往直前的力量来源。(为未来努力、奋斗)
我相信我们我们能在取得成就的基础上取得新的机会,为美国的中产阶级提供新的希望,我相信我们能够继续延续我们的建国者的承诺,不管你来自哪里,不管你的肤色是什么,不管你是黑人、白人,亚裔人,任何种族,不管你是同性恋还是非同性恋,不管你是贫困的还是富裕的,你可以在美国做你想做的一切,我们可以共同迎来这样的未来,因为我们对未来是充满了希望,我们有雄心壮志,我们赢得的不仅仅是这一个选举,而且是一个未来,是美国的未来,我们会一起赢得这场战役。而且上帝会引导我们走向这条道路,并且我们相信,我们会成为世界上最伟大的国家,谢谢你们,上帝保佑美国!(民主与自由创就未来)
(对选民的尊重与感谢,竞争者与支持者的评价,竞选团队与支持者的感谢,认识、理解和尊重民愿,认识国民的评价,总统理念,国爱民、民爱国,民意的反映,为未来努力、奋斗,民主与自由创就未来)
第四篇:米歇尔奥巴马演讲
This is my first trip, my first foreign trip as a first lady.Can you believe that? And while this is not my first visit to the U.K., I have to say that I am glad that this is my first official visit.Please remember that.If you want to know the reason why I'm standing here, it's because of education.I never cut class.Sorry, I don't know if anybody is cutting class.I never did it.I loved getting As.I liked being smart.I liked being on time.I liked getting my work done.I thought being smart was cooler than anything in the world.And you too, with these same values, can control your own destiny.You too can pave the way.You too can realize your dreams, and then your job is to reach back and to help someone just like you do the same thing.History proves that it doesn't matter whether you come from a council estate or a country estate.Your success will be determined by your own fortitude, your own confidence, your own individual hard work.That is true.That is the reality of the world that we live in.You now have control over your own destiny.And it won't be easy--that's for sure.But you have everything you need.Everything you need to succeed, you already have, right here.My husband works in this big office.They call it the Oval Office.In the White House, there's the desk that he sits at--it's called the Resolute desk.It was built by the timber of Her Majesty's Ship Resolute and given by Queen Victoria.It's an enduring symbol of the friendship between our two nations.And its name, Resolute, is a reminder of the strength of character that's required not only to lead a country, but to live a life of purpose, as well.And I hope in pursuing your dreams, you all remain resolute, that you go forward without limits, and that you use your talents--because there are many;we've seen them;it's there--that you use them to create the world as it should be.Because we are counting on you.We are counting on every single one of you to be the very best that you can be.Because the world is big.And it's full of challenges.And we need strong, smart, confident young women to stand up and take the reins.We know you can do it.We love you.Thank you so much.MRS.OBAMA:(Applause.)Thank you.Well, ni-hao.(Laughter.)It is such a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you at this great university, so thank you so much for having me.谢谢。你好。很高兴也很荣幸来到这里,在这所伟大的大学和你们共聚一堂。非常感谢你们邀请我。Now, before I get started today, on behalf of myself and my husband, I just want to say a few very brief words about Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.As my husband has said, the United States is offering as many resources as possible to assist in the search.And please know that we are keeping all of the families and loved ones of those on this flight in our thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time.在我今天开始之前,代表我自己和我的丈夫,我想就马来西亚航空公司的MH370航班简短说两句。如我丈夫所说,美国正提供尽可能多的资源协助搜寻工作。请相信,在这个非常艰难的时刻,我们的心和航班上人员的家属和亲人在一起,我们为他们祈祷。Now with that, I want to start by recognizing our new Ambassador to China, Ambassador Baucus.President Wang;Chairman Zhu;Vice President Li;Director Cueller;Professor Oi, and the Stanford Center;President Sexton from New York University, which is an excellent study abroad program in Shanghai;and John Thornton, Director of the Global Leadership Program at Tsinghua University.Thank you all for joining us.现在,我们首先来认识一下美国新任驻华大使——博卡斯大使。王校长、朱主席、李副校长、Cuelluer主任、Jean Oi教授和斯坦福中心,纽约大学的塞克顿斯校长(该校在上海开设了一个优秀的海外留学项目),以及清华大学全球领袖项目主任约翰·桑顿,由衷地感谢大家的到来。But most of all, I want to thank all of the students who are here today.And I particularly want to thank Eric Schaefer and Zhu Xuanhao for that extraordinary English and Chinese introduction.That was a powerful symbol of everything that I want to talk with you about today.最重要的是,我要感谢今天所有到场的学生们......我要特别感谢埃里克·谢弗和朱宣皓的精彩英文和中文介绍。这绝佳地诠释了我今天要和大家聊的全部话题。
See, by learning each other’s languages, and by showing such curiosity and respect for each other’s cultures, Mr.Schafer and Ms.Zhu and all of you are building bridges of understanding that will lead to so much more.And I’m here today because I know that our future depends on connections like these among young people like you across the globe.你们看,通过学习彼此的语言,通过展现对彼此文化的好奇心和尊重,谢弗先生、朱女士以及你们大家正在搭建理解的桥梁,这些桥梁带来更多的丰硕成果。我今天来到你们这里是因为我知道,我们的未来取决于全球像你们这样年轻人间的这样的联系。That’s why when my husband and I travel abroad, we don’t just visit palaces and parliaments and meet with heads of state.We also come to schools like this one to meet with students like you, because we believe that relationships between nations aren’t just about relationships between governments or
leaders--they’re about relationships between people, particularly young people.So we view study abroad programs not just as an educational opportunity for students, but also as a vital part of America’s foreign policy.这也是为什么我们夫妇在国外访问时,不只参观宫殿、议会和会晤国家元首。我们也来到学校,与像你们一样的学生见面。因为我们相信,国与国之间的关系不只是政府或领导人之间的关系,它们是人民间―特别是年轻人之间的关系。因此,我们认为海外留学项目不只是为学生提供的教育机会,还是美国外交政策至关重要的组成部分。Through the wonders of modern technology, our world is more connected than ever before.Ideas can cross oceans with the click of a button.Companies can do business and compete with companies across the globe.And we can text, email, Skype with people on every continent.通过现代技术奇迹,我们的世界比以往任何时候都更多地联系在一起。思想可以通过点击按钮跨越海洋。全球各地的公司可以进行业务往来和相互竟争。我们可以与各大洲的人们通过短信、电子邮件和Skype进行沟通。So studying abroad isn’t just a fun way to spend a semester;it is quickly becoming the key to success in our global economy.Because getting ahead in today’s workplaces isn’t just about getting good grades or test scores in school, which are important.It’s also about having real experience with the world
beyond your borders –-experience with languages, cultures and societies very different from your own.Or, as the Chinese saying goes: ―It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books.‖
因此,出国留学不只是以开心的方式度过一个学期——它正迅速成为全球化经济中取得成功的关键。因为要走在当今职场的前沿,只在学校里取得好成绩是不够的,还应拥有国境外的真实体验:体验完全不同的语言、文化和社会。正如中国的一句古话所说:―读万卷书,不如行万里路。‖ But let’s be clear, studying abroad is about so much more than improving your own future.It’s also about shaping the future of your countries and of the world we all share.Because when it comes to the defining challenges of our time-– whether it’s climate change or economic opportunity or the spread of nuclear
weapons--these are shared challenges.And no one country can confront them alone.The only way forward is together.我想要说的是,出国留学绝不仅是改善你们自己的未来,它也关乎塑造你们的国家、关乎我们共有的世界的未来。因为我们这个时代的决定性挑战一一无论是气侯变化、经济机遇,还是核武器扩散一一这些都是我们共同的挑战。没有任何一个国家能够单独应对它们……唯一的出路就是共同携手。
That’s why it is so important for young people like you to live and study in each other’s countries, because that’s how you develop that habit of cooperation.You do it by immersing yourself in one another’s culture, by learning each other’s stories, by getting past the stereotypes and misconceptions that too often divide us.这就是为什么年轻人到彼此国家学习和生活是如此重要。因为这是你们培养合作习惯的途径一一你们通过融入不同的文化,通过了解彼此的故事,通过跨越常常隔膜我们的成见和误解,来做到这一点。That’s how you come to understand how much we all share.That’s how you realize that we all have a stake in each other’s success--that cures discovered here in Beijing could save lives in America, that clean energy technologies from Silicon Valley in California could improve the environment here in China, that the architecture of an ancient temple in Xi’an could inspire the design of new buildings in Dallas or Detroit.这是你们了解到我们共享多少东西的途径。这是你们认识到我们的成功惠及彼此的途径。在北京发现的治序方法可以挽救在美国的生命,来自加州硅谷的清洁能源技术可以改善中国的环境,西安一座古老寺庙的架构可激发达拉斯或者底特律新建筑设计的灵感。
第五篇:米歇尔奥巴马演讲全文 speech
Thank you so much, Elaine...we are so grateful for your family's service and sacrifice...and we will always have your back.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 incredible kindness and warmth that people have shown me and my family, especially our girls.I've seen it in teachers in a near-bankrupt school district who vowed to keep teaching without pay.I've seen it 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 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.”
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.How would we keep them grounded under the glare of the national spotlight? PBS NewsHour/YouTube
First lady Michelle Obama addresses the DNC after being introduced by military mom Elaine Brye, from PBS NewsHour.How would they feel being uprooted from their school, their friends, and the only home they'd ever known?
Our life before moving to Washington 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.And the truth is, I loved the life we had built for our girls...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 though back then Barack was a Senator and a presidential candidate...to me, he was still the guy who'd picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted out, I could actually see the pavement going by through 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 half a size too small.But when Barack started telling me about his family – 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.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 knew there were plenty of days when he was in pain...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, 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 stand at the top of the stairs to 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.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 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 as I got to know Barack, I realized that even though he'd grown up all the way across the country, he'd been brought up just like me.Barack was raised by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills, and by grandparents who stepped in when she needed help.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 she would often tell Barack, “So long as you kids do well, Bar, that's all that really matters.”
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 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, then you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids.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 learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters...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 Barack and I – and so many of you – are trying to pass on to our own children.That's who we are.And standing before you four years ago, I knew that I didn't want any of that to change if Barack became President.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 – it reveals who you are.You see, 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 – 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 can 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.So 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 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 – that's not how he was raised – he cared that it was the right thing to do.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 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.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 bills were actually higher than our mortgage.We were so young, so in love, and so in debt.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 to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we're from, or what we look like, or who we love.And he believes that when you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity...you do not slam it shut behind you...you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.So when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, 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.He's the same man 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's the same man who, when our girls were first born, would anxiously check their cribs every few minutes to ensure they were still breathing, proudly showing them off to everyone we knew.That's the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, patiently answering their questions about issues in the news, and strategizing about middle school friendships.That's the man I see in those quiet moments late at night, hunched over his desk, poring over the letters people have sent him.The letter from the father struggling to pay his bills...from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won't cover her care...from the young person with so much promise but so few opportunities.I see the concern in his eyes...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 how those stories – our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams – I see how that's what drives Barack Obama every single day.And I didn't think it was possible, but 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.I love that he's never forgotten how he started.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.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's always ready to listen to good ideas...he's always looking for the very best in everyone he meets.And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we're all sweating it – when we're worried that the bill won't pass, and it seems like all is lost – Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.Just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward...with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace.And he reminds me that we are playing a long game here...and that change is hard, and change is slow, and it never happens all at once.But eventually we get there, we always do.We get there because of folks like my Dad...folks like Barack's grandmother...men and women who said to themselves, “I may not have a chance to fulfill my dreams, but maybe my children will...maybe my grandchildren will.”
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's who we are as Americans...it's how this country was built.And if our parents and grandparents could toil and struggle for us...if they could raise beams of steel to the sky, send a man to the moon, and connect the world with the touch of a button...then surely we can keep on sacrificing and building for our own kids and grandkids.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 and make our voices heard on Election Day.If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire...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, 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 so many other American stories possible.And I say all of this tonight not just as First Lady...and not just as a wife.You see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still “mom-in-chief.”
My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world.But today, I have none of those worries from four years ago about whether Barack and I were doing what's best for our girls.Because today, I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters, and all our sons and daughters...if we want to give all our children a foundation for their dreams and opportunities worthy of their promise...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, President Barack Obama.Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.