Pool Report From the President's Appearance on The Tonight Show

Aug. 6, 2013 Burbank, California Thanks to co-pooler Isaac Dovere of Politico. POTUS finished taping the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He was wearing the same dark suit and blue tie as earlier today in Arizona. Pool watched the taping on TV from another room at the NBC studios. We are able to report on the contents now, after the taping, but not release a full transcript or too many quotes. Pretty newsy interview. Leno asked about Edward Snowden, NSA, embassy closings, Russia, Hillary Clinton, economy, healthcare. On embassy closings: POTUS said the U.S. was not overreacting. POTUS said people can still take vacation, just do so in a “prudent way” by checking on the State Department Websites for up-to-day information before making plans. "The odds of dying in a terrorist attack are a lot lower than they are of dying in a car accident, unfortunately." On NSA: POTUS said government surveillance is a "critical component to counterterrorism." But, he said, he knows that the surveillance programs have "raised a lot of questions for people." "We don’t have a domestic spying program. What we do have is some mechanisms that can track a phone number or an email address that is connected to a terroritst attack...That information is useful." Snowden/Russia: Leno asked POTUS what he would call Snowden? "We don’t know exactly what he did, except what he said on the Internet and it's im important for me not to judge." POTUS said he asked his staff to look at ways to reduce the number of contractors. On Russia: POTUS said he was disappointed in its decision on Snowden, but he said the two nations still work together on Afghainstan and the Boston bombing. "There are times when they slip back into Cold War thinking and Cold War mentality. What I continually say to them and to President Putin, that’s the past." POTUS said he would be attending the G-20 summitt in St. Petersburg, Russia. He does not think that the gay rights controversy there will affect the Olympics. More to come on other topics in next report The show will air tonight. In response to several of your questions, theTonight Show says it will send out excerpts as soon as possible. Contact at the show is: Kevin Endsley kevin.endsley@nbcuni.com Anita Kumar White House Correspondent McClatchy Newspapers

DNI Statement on Recent Unauthorized Disclosures of Classified Information

Thursday, June 06, 2013 

DNI Statement on Recent Unauthorized Disclosures of Classified Information

The highest priority of the Intelligence Community is to work within the constraints of law to collect, analyze and understand information related to potential threats to our national security.

The unauthorized disclosure of a top secret U.S. court document threatens potentially long-lasting and irreversible harm to our ability to identify and respond to the many threats facing our nation.

The article omits key information regarding how a classified intelligence collection program is used to prevent terrorist attacks and the numerous safeguards that protect privacy and civil liberties.

I believe it is important for the American people to understand the limits of this targeted counterterrorism program and the principles that govern its use. In order to provide a more thorough understanding of the program, I have directed that certain information related to the “business records” provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act be declassified and immediately released to the public.

The following important facts explain the purpose and limitations of the program:

The Patriot Act was signed into law in October 2001 and included authority to compel production of business records and other tangible things relevant to an authorized national security investigation with the approval of the FISC. This provision has subsequently been reauthorized over the course of two Administrations – in 2006 and in 2011. It has been an important investigative tool that has been used over the course of two Administrations, with the authorization and oversight of the FISC and the Congress.

Discussing programs like this publicly will have an impact on the behavior of our adversaries and make it more difficult for us to understand their intentions. Surveillance programs like this one are consistently subject to safeguards that are designed to strike the appropriate balance between national security interests and civil liberties and privacy concerns. I believe it is important to address the misleading impression left by the article and to reassure the American people that the Intelligence Community is committed to respecting the civil liberties and privacy of all American citizens.

James R. Clapper, Director of National Intelligence

June 6, 2013

DNI Statement on Activities Authorized Under Section 702 of FISA

The Guardian and The Washington Post articles refer to collection of communications pursuant to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. They contain numerous inaccuracies.

Section 702 is a provision of FISA that is designed to facilitate the acquisition of foreign intelligence information concerning non-U.S. persons located outside the United States. It cannot be used to intentionally target any U.S. citizen, any other U.S. person, or anyone located within the United States.

Activities authorized by Section 702 are subject to oversight by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, the Executive Branch, and Congress. They involve extensive procedures, specifically approved by the court, to ensure that only non-U.S. persons outside the U.S. are targeted, and that minimize the acquisition, retention and dissemination of incidentally acquired information about U.S. persons.

Section 702 was recently reauthorized by Congress after extensive hearings and debate.

Information collected under this program is among the most important and valuable foreign intelligence information we collect, and is used to protect our nation from a wide variety of threats.

The unauthorized disclosure of information about this important and entirely legal program is reprehensible and risks important protections for the security of Americans.

James R. Clapper, Director of National Intelligence

THE CASE OF THE ITSY BITSY TEENY WEENY BIKINI TOP V. THE (MORE) ITSY BITSY TEENY WEENY PASTIE

That's the real name of this case from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. The issue at hand is pasties worn by exotic dancers—it's not exactly Plessy vs. Ferguson, so the judge had some fun teeing up his decision.

The puns. Dear God, the puns. And yes, the photo is actually in the opinion.

Full PDF is here.

h/t Mike Byhoff

President Obama's speech at the 2013 Gridiron Dinner

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release March 9, 2013 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE GRIDIRON DINNER Washington Renaissance Hotel Washington, DC 10:03 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Before I begin, I know some of you have noticed that I'm dressed a little differently from the other gentlemen. Because of sequester, they cut my tails. (Laughter.) My joke writers have been placed on furlough. (Laughter.) I know a lot of you reported that no one will feel any immediate impact because of the sequester. Well, you’re about to find out how wrong you are. (Laughter.) Of course, there’s one thing in Washington that didn’t get cut -- the length of this dinner. (Laughter.) Yet more proof that the sequester makes no sense. (Laughter.) As you know, I last attended the Gridiron dinner two years ago. Back then, I addressed a number of topics -- a dysfunctional Congress, a looming budget crisis, complaints that I don’t spend enough time with the press. It’s funny, it seems like it was just yesterday. (Laughter.) We noticed that some folks couldn’t make it this evening. It's been noted that Bob Woodward sends his regrets, which Gene Sperling predicted. (Laughter.) I have to admit this whole brouhaha had me a little surprised. Who knew Gene could be so intimidating? (Laughter.) Or let me phrase it differently -- who knew anybody named Gene could be this intimidating? (Laughter.) Now I know that some folks think we responded to Woodward too aggressively. But hey, when has -- can anybody tell me when an administration has ever regretted picking a fight with Bob Woodward? (Laughter.) What’s the worst that could happen? (Laughter and applause.) But don’t worry. We’re all friends again in the spirit of that wonderful song. As you may have heard, Bob invited Gene over to his place. And Bob says he actually thinks that I should make it too. And I might take him up on the offer. I mean, nothing says "not a threat" like showing up at somebody's house with guys with machine guns. (Laughter.) Now, since I don’t often speak to a room full of journalists -- (laughter) -- I thought I should address a few concerns tonight. Some of you have said that I’m ignoring the Washington press corps -- that we're too controlling. You know what, you were right. I was wrong and I want to apologize in a video you can watch exclusively at whitehouse.gov. (Laughter.) While we’re on this subject, I want to acknowledge Ed Henry, who is here -- who is the fearless leader of the Washington press corps now. (Applause.) And at Ed’s request, tonight I will take one question from the press. Jay, do we have a question? (Laughter.) Surprisingly, it’s a question from Ed Henry. (Laughter.) “Mr. President, will you be taking any questions tonight?” (Laughter.) I'm happy to answer that. No, Ed, I will not. (Laughter.) I also want to recognize David Corn. He’s here from Mother Jones magazine. He brought his iPhone. So Bobby Jindal, if you thought your remarks were off the record, ask Mitt Romney about that. (Applause.) I have to say, I thought Bobby was incredibly funny this evening. (Applause.) I thought he was terrific. Amy Klobuchar was sparkling and fantastic and fabulous. (Applause.) I am worried about Al Franken though. (Laughter.) How do you start off being one of the original writers for Saturday Night Live and end up being the second-funniest Senator in Minnesota? (Laughter and applause.) How the mighty have fallen. (Laughter.) Now I'm sure that you’ve noticed that there's somebody very special in my life who is missing tonight, somebody who has always got my back, stands with me no matter what and gives me hope no matter how dark things seem. So tonight, I want to publicly thank my rock, my foundation -- thank you, Nate Silver. (Laughter.) Of course as I begin my second term, our country is still facing enormous challenges. We have a lot of work to do -- that, Marco Rubio, is how you take a sip of water. (Laughter and applause.) As I was saying, we face major challenges. March in particular is going to be full of tough decisions. But I want to assure you, I have my top advisors working around the clock. After all, my March Madness bracket isn’t going to fill itself out. (Laughter.) And don’t worry -- there is an entire team in the situation room as we speak, planning my next golf outing, right now at this moment. (Laughter.) But those aren’t the only issues on my mind. As you are aware -- as has been noted this evening -- we’ve had to make some very tough, huge budget cuts apparently with no regard to long-term consequences, which means I know how you feel in journalism. (Laughter.) I’ve been trying to explain this situation to the American people, but clearly I am not perfect. After a very public mix-up last week, my communications team has provided me with an easy way to distinguish between Star Trek and Star Wars. (Laughter.) Spock is what Maureen Dowd calls me. Darth Vader is what John Boehner calls me. (Laughter.) Of course, maintaining credibility in this cynical atmosphere is harder than ever -- incredibly challenging. My administration recently put out a photo of me skeet shooting and even that wasn’t enough for some people. Next week, we’re releasing a photo of me clinging to religion. (Laughter and applause.) I’m also doing what I can to smooth things over with Republicans in Congress. In fact, these days John McCain and I are spending so much time together that he told me we were becoming friends. I said, “John, stop. Chuck Hagel warned me how this ends up.” (Laughter.) It took a while, but I’m glad that the Senate finally confirmed my Secretary of Defense. And I have to say, I don’t know what happened to Chuck in those hearings. I know he worked hard, he studied his brief. And I even lent him my presidential debate team to work with him. (Laughter.) It's confusing what happened. (Laughter.) But all these changes to my team are tough to handle, I've got to admit. After nine years, I finally said goodbye to my chief speechwriter, Jon Favreau. I watched him grow up. He’s almost like a son to me, he’s been with me so long. And I said to him when he first informed me of his decision, I said, “Favs, you can’t leave.” And he answered with three simple words -- "yes, I can." (Laughter.) Fortunately, he did not take the prompter on his way out. (Laughter.) That would have been a problem. (Laughter.) With all these new faces, it’s hard to keep track of who is in, who is out. And I know it's difficult for you guys as reporters. But I can offer you an easy way of remembering the new team. If Ted Cruz calls somebody a communist, then you know they’re in my cabinet. (Laughter.) Jack Lew is getting started on his new role as Treasury Secretary. Jack is so low key, he makes Tim Geithner look like Tom Cruise. (Laughter.) Don’t worry, everybody, Jack signed off on that joke or a five year old drew a slinky. (Laughter.) I don't know which. (Applause.) Another big change has been at the State Department. Everybody has noticed that obviously. And let’s face it -- Hillary is a tough act to follow. But John Kerry is doing great so far. He is doing everything he can to ensure continuity. Frankly, though, I think it’s time for him to stop showing up at work in pantsuits. (Laughter.) It's a disturbing image. (Laughter.) It really is. (Laughter.) I don't know where he buys them. He is a tall guy. (Laughter.) And even though I’m just beginning my second term, I know that some folks are looking ahead to bigger things. Look, it’s no secret that my Vice President is still ambitious. But let's face it, his age is an issue. Just the other day, I had to take Joe aside and say, “Joe, you are way too young to be the pope." (Laughter.) "You can't do it. You got to mature a little bit." (Laughter.) Now, I do want to end on a serious note. I know that there are people who get frustrated with the way journalism is practiced these days. And sometimes those people are me. (Laughter.) But the truth is our country needs you and our democracy needs you. In an age when all it takes to attract attention is a Twitter handle and some followers, it’s easier than ever to get it wrong. But it’s more important than ever to get it right. And I am grateful for all the journalists who do one of the toughest jobs there is with integrity and insight and dedication -- and a sense of purpose -- that goes beyond a business model or a news cycle. This year alone, reporters have exposed corruption here at home and around the world. They’ve risked everything to bring us stories from places like Syria and Kenya, stories that need to be told. And they’ve helped people understand the ways in which we’re all connected -- how something that happens or doesn’t happen halfway around the world or here in Washington can have consequences for American families. These are extraordinary times. The stakes are high and the tensions can sometimes be high as well. But while we'll always have disagreements, I believe that we share the belief that a free press -- a press that questions us, that holds us accountable, that sometimes gets under our skin -- is absolutely an essential part of our democracy. So I want to thank everybody for not just a wonderful evening -- and, Chuck, I want to thank you for your outstanding presidency -- but I also just want to thank you for the work that you do each and every day. And in the words of one of my favorite Star Trek characters -- Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise -- “May the force be with you." (Laughter and applause.) END 10:19 P.M. EST ----- The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW · Washington DC 20500 · 202-456-1111

Marco Rubio's speech as prepared for delivery, in English and Spanish

SENATOR RUBIO DELIVERS REPUBLICAN ADDRESS TO THE NATION

  Republican Address To The Nation

Remarks As Prepared For Delivery

Senator Marco Rubio

February 12, 2013

  ENGLISH REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

  Good evening. I’m Marco Rubio. I’m blessed to represent Florida in the United States Senate. Let me begin by congratulating President Obama on the start of his second term. Tonight, I have the honor of responding to his State of the Union address on behalf of my fellow Republicans.  And I am especially honored to be addressing our brave men and women serving in the armed forces and in diplomatic posts around the world. You may be thousands of miles away, but you are always in our prayers.

  The State of the Union address is always a reminder of how unique America is. For much of human history, most people were trapped in stagnant societies, where a tiny minority always stayed on top, and no one else even had a chance.

  But America is exceptional because we believe that every life, at every stage, is precious, and that everyone everywhere has a God-given right to go as far as their talents and hard work will take them.

  Like most Americans, for me this ideal is personal. My parents immigrated here in pursuit of the opportunity to improve their life and give their children the chance at an even better one. They made it to the middle class, my dad working as a bartender and my mother as a cashier and a maid. I didn’t inherit any money from them. But I inherited something far better – the real opportunity to accomplish my dreams.

  This opportunity – to make it to the middle class or beyond no matter where you start out in life – it isn’t bestowed on us from Washington.  It comes from a vibrant free economy where people can risk their own money to open a business. And when they succeed, they hire more people, who in turn invest or spend the money they make, helping others start a business and create jobs.

  Presidents in both parties – from John F. Kennedy to Ronald Reagan – have known that our free enterprise economy is the source of our middle class prosperity.

  But President Obama?  He believes it’s the cause of our problems.  That the economic downturn happened because our government didn’t tax enough, spend enough and control enough. And, therefore, as you heard tonight, his solution to virtually every problem we face is for Washington to tax more, borrow more and spend more.

  This idea – that our problems were caused by a government that was too small – it’s just not true. In fact, a major cause of our recent downturn was a housing crisis created by reckless government policies.

  And the idea that more taxes and more government spending is the best way to help hardworking middle class taxpayers – that’s an old idea that’s failed every time it’s been tried.

  More government isn’t going to help you get ahead.  It’s going to hold you back. 

  More government isn’t going to create more opportunities.  It’s going to limit them.

  And more government isn’t going to inspire new ideas, new businesses and new private sector jobs.  It’s going to create uncertainty.

  Because more government breeds complicated rules and laws that a small business can’t afford to follow.

  Because more government raises taxes on employers who then pass the costs on to their employees through fewer hours, lower pay and even layoffs.

  And because many government programs that claim to help the middle class, often end up hurting them instead.

  For example, Obamacare was supposed to help middle class Americans afford health insurance.  But now, some people are losing the health insurance they were happy with.  And because Obamacare created expensive requirements for companies with more than 50 employees, now many of these businesses aren’t hiring.  Not only that; they’re being forced to lay people off and switch from full-time employees to part-time workers.

  Now does this mean there’s no role for government?  Of course not.  It plays a crucial part in keeping us safe, enforcing rules, and providing some security against the risks of modern life. But government’s role is wisely limited by the Constitution. And it can’t play its essential role when it ignores those limits.

  There are valid reasons to be concerned about the President’s plan to grow our government. But any time anyone opposes the President’s agenda, he and his allies usually respond by falsely attacking their motives.

  When we point out that no matter how many job-killing laws we pass, our government can’t control the weather – he accuses us of wanting dirty water and dirty air.

  When we suggest we strengthen our safety net programs by giving states more flexibility to manage them – he accuses us of wanting to leave the elderly and disabled to fend for themselves.

  And tonight, he even criticized us for refusing to raise taxes to delay military cuts – cuts that were his idea in the first place.

  But his favorite attack of all is that those who don’t agree with him – they only care about rich people.

  Mr. President, I still live in the same working class neighborhood I grew up in. My neighbors aren’t millionaires. They’re retirees who depend on Social Security and Medicare. They’re workers who have to get up early tomorrow morning and go to work to pay the bills. They’re immigrants, who came here because they were stuck in poverty in countries where the government dominated the economy.

  The tax increases and the deficit spending you propose will hurt middle class families. It will cost them their raises. It will cost them their benefits. It may even cost some of them their jobs.

  And it will hurt seniors because it does nothing to save Medicare and Social Security.

  So Mr. President, I don’t oppose your plans because I want to protect the rich. I oppose your plans because I want to protect my neighbors.

  Hard-working middle class Americans who don’t need us to come up with a plan to grow the government. They want a plan to grow the middle class.

  Economic growth is the best way to help the middle class.  Unfortunately, our economy actually shrank during the last three months of 2012.

  But if we can get the economy to grow at just 4 percent a year, it would create millions of middle class jobs. And it could reduce our deficits by almost $4 trillion dollars over the next decade.

  Tax increases can’t do this. Raising taxes won’t create private sector jobs. And there’s no realistic tax increase that could lower our deficits by almost $4 trillion. That’s why I hope the President will abandon his obsession with raising taxes and instead work with us to achieve real growth in our economy. 

  One of the best ways to encourage growth is through our energy industry. Of course solar and wind energy should be a part of our energy portfolio. But God also blessed America with abundant coal, oil and natural gas. Instead of wasting more taxpayer money on so-called “clean energy” companies like Solyndra, let’s open up more federal lands for safe and responsible exploration. And let’s reform our energy regulations so that they’re reasonable and based on common sense. If we can grow our energy industry, it will make us energy independent, it will create middle class jobs and it will help bring manufacturing back from places like China.

  Simplifying our tax code will also help the middle class, because it will make it easier for small businesses to hire and grow. 

  And we agree with the President that we should lower our corporate tax rate, which is one of the highest in the world, so that companies will start bringing their money and their jobs back here from overseas.

  We can also help our economy grow if we have a legal immigration system that allows us to attract and assimilate the world’s best and brightest. We need a responsible, permanent solution to the problem of those who are here illegally. But first, we must follow through on the broken promises of the past to secure our borders and enforce our laws.

  Helping the middle class grow will also require an education system that gives people the skills today’s jobs entail and the knowledge that tomorrow’s world will require.

  We need to incentivize local school districts to offer more advanced placement courses and more vocational and career training.

  We need to give all parents, especially the parents of children with special needs, the opportunity to send their children to the school of their choice.

  And because tuition costs have grown so fast, we need to change the way we pay for higher education.

  I believe in federal financial aid. I couldn’t have gone to college without it. But it’s not just about spending more money on these programs; it’s also about strengthening and modernizing them.

  A 21st century workforce should not be forced to accept 20th century education solutions. Today’s students aren’t only 18 year olds.  They’re returning veterans. They’re single parents who decide to get the education they need to earn a decent wage. And they’re workers who have lost jobs that are never coming back and need to be retrained.

  We need student aid that does not discriminate against programs that non-traditional students rely on – like online courses, or degree programs that give you credit for work experience. 

  When I finished school, I owed over 100,000 dollars in student loans, a debt I paid off just a few months ago. Today, many graduates face massive student debt. We must give students more information on the costs and benefits of the student loans they’re taking out.

  All these measures are key to helping the economy grow. But we won’t be able to sustain a vibrant middle class unless we solve our debt problem.

  Every dollar our government borrows is money that isn’t being invested to create jobs. And the uncertainty created by the debt is one reason why many businesses aren’t hiring.

  The President loves to blame the debt on President Bush. But President Obama created more debt in four years than his predecessor did in eight.

  The real cause of our debt is that our government has been spending 1 trillion dollars more than it takes in every year. That’s why we need a balanced budget amendment.

  The biggest obstacles to balancing the budget are programs where spending is already locked in. One of these programs, Medicare, is especially important to me. It provided my father the care he needed to battle cancer and ultimately die with dignity. And it pays for the care my mother receives now. 

  I would never support any changes to Medicare that would hurt seniors like my mother. But anyone who is in favor of leaving Medicare exactly the way it is right now, is in favor of bankrupting it.

  Republicans have offered a detailed and credible plan that helps save Medicare without hurting today’s retirees. Instead of playing politics with Medicare, when is the President going to offer his plan to save it? Tonight would have been a good time for him to do it. 

  Of course, we face other challenges as well. We were all heart broken by the recent tragedy in Connecticut. We must effectively deal with the rise of violence in our country. But unconstitutionally undermining the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans is not the way to do it.

  On foreign policy, America continues to be indispensable to the goal of global liberty, prosperity and safeguarding human rights. The world is a better place when America is the strongest nation on earth. But we can’t remain powerful if we don’t have an economy that can afford it.

  In the short time I’ve been here in Washington, nothing has frustrated me more than false choices like the ones the President laid out tonight.

  The choice isn’t just between big government or big business. What we need is an accountable, efficient and effective government that allows small and new businesses to create middle class jobs. 

  We don’t have to raise taxes to avoid the President’s devastating cuts to our military. Republicans have passed a plan that replaces these cuts with responsible spending reforms.

  In order to balance our budget, the choice doesn’t have to be either higher taxes or dramatic benefit cuts for those in need.  Instead we should grow our economy so that we create new taxpayers, not new taxes, and so our government can afford to help those who truly cannot help themselves. 

  And the truth is every problem can’t be solved by government. Many are caused by the moral breakdown in our society. And the answers to those challenges lie primarily in our families and our faiths, not our politicians.

  Despite our differences, I know that both Republicans and Democrats love America. I pray we can come together to solve our problems, because the choices before us could not be more important.

  If we can get our economy healthy again, our children will be the most prosperous Americans ever.

  And if we do not, we will forever be known as the generation responsible for America’s decline. 

At a time when one showdown after another ends in short-term deals that do little or nothing about our real problems, some are starting to believe that our government leaders just can’t or won’t make the right choices anymore.

  But our strength has never come from the White House or the Capitol.  It’s always come from our people. A people united by the American idea that, if you have a dream and you are willing to work hard, nothing should be impossible.

  Americans have always celebrated and been inspired by those who succeed. But it’s the dreams of those who are still trying to make it that sets our nation apart.

  Tonight, all across this land, parents will hold their newborn children in their arms for the first time. For many of these parents, life has not gone the way they had planned.

  Maybe they were born into circumstances they’ve found difficult to escape. Maybe they’ve made some mistakes along the way. Maybe they’re young mothers, all alone, the father of their child long gone.

  But tonight, when they look into the eyes of their child for the first time, their lives will change forever. Because in those eyes, they will see what my parents saw in me, and what your parents saw in you. They will see all the hopes and dreams they once had for themselves.

  This dream – of a better life for their children – it’s the hope of parents everywhere. Politicians here and throughout the world have long promised that more government can make those dreams come true. 

  But we Americans have always known better. From our earliest days, we embraced economic liberty instead. And because we did, America remains one of the few places on earth where dreams like these even have a chance.

  Each time our nation has faced great challenges, what has kept us together was our shared hope for a better life.

  Now, let that hope bring us together again.  To solve the challenges of our time and write the next chapter in the amazing story of the greatest nation man has ever known.

  Thank you for listening.  May God bless all of you. May God bless our President. And may God continue to bless the United States of America.

  SPANISH REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

  Buenas noches. Soy Marco Rubio. Me siento bendecido por servir al estado de la Florida en el Senado de los Estados Unidos. Quiero felicitar al presidente Obama por el comienzo de su segundo mandato.  Esta noche, tengo el honor de responder a su discurso sobre el Estado de la Unión en nombre de mis colegas republicanos. Me siento especialmente honrado de estar dirigiéndome a nuestros valientes hombres y mujeres que prestan servicio en las fuerzas armadas y en cargos diplomáticos alrededor del mundo. Aunque están lejos de nosotros, siempre están en nuestras oraciones.

  El discurso sobre el Estado de la Unión siempre es un buen recordatorio de que lo que tenemos aquí en los Estados Unidos es especial. Durante casi toda la historia, la gente ha estado atrapada en sociedades estancadas, donde la misma gente siempre se mantiene en la cima y todos los demás nunca tuvieron una oportunidad.

  Pero los Estados Unidos es excepcional porque, aquí, creemos que cada ser humano, en cada una de sus etapas, es preciosa, y que todo ser humano tiene un derecho dado por Dios a llegar tan lejos como sus talentos y trabajo les permitan.

  Como para la mayoría de los estadounidenses, este ideal es personal. Mis padres emigraron aquí en búsqueda de oportunidad para mejorar sus vidas y ofrecer a sus hijos la posibilidad de una vida mejor.  Ellos lograron ser parte de la clase media, mi padre trabajando de barman y mi madre de cajera y camarera. Yo no heredé dinero de ellos. Pero heredé algo aún mejor – la oportunidad de hacer realidad mis sueños.

  Esta no es sólo mi historia. Aunque los detalles son diferentes para cada persona, cada estadounidense también tiene una historia especial.  Esta es la increíble historia de los Estados Unidos.

  Esta oportunidad – de ser parte de la clase media o más, sin importar donde se inició uno en la vida – no provino del gobierno. Se trata de una economía vibrante en la que la gente arriesga su propio dinero para abrir negocios. Y cuando tienen éxito, emplean a más personas, que a su vez invierten o gastan su dinero, ayudando a otros a iniciar un negocio y crear puestos de trabajo.

  Presidentes en ambos partidos – desde John F. Kennedy a Ronald Reagan – han reconocido que nuestra economía de libre empresa ha sido la fuente de prosperidad para nuestra clase media. 

Pero el presidente Obama cree que es la causa de nuestros problemas. Él cree que nuestra crisis económica sucedió porque nuestro gobierno no cobró más impuestos, no gastó más ni controló más. Y, como lo escucharon esta noche, su solución es darle al gobierno más dinero para gastar.

Esta idea – que el gobierno siendo demasiado pequeño es lo que creó nuestros problemas – no es cierta. De hecho, la causa de nuestros recientes problemas fue una crisis de vivienda creada por las políticas irresponsables del gobierno.

  Y, la idea de que un gobierno que gaste más es la mejor forma de ayudar a la clase media es una idea que ha fracasado siempre que se ha implementado.

  Más gobierno no les ayudará a salir adelante.  Les mantendrá estancados.

  Más gobierno no les brindará más oportunidades.  Les limitará.

  Y más gobierno no inspirará nuevas ideas, nuevos negocios y nuevos puestos de trabajo en el sector privado.  Crea más incertidumbre.

  Porque el gobierno crea reglas y leyes complicadas que un pequeño negocio no tiene el dinero para cumplir con ellas. 

  Porque le sube los impuestos a los dueños de empresas quienes después pasan el costo a sus empleados a través de menos horas de trabajo, salarios más bajos y la eliminación de puestos de trabajos.

  Y es así como muchos programas del gobierno que se pronuncian a favor de la clase media, al fin los lastiman a ustedes.

  Por ejemplo, el programa Obamacare estaba supuesto ayudar a las personas de clase media a obtener seguro médico.  Pero ahora, algunos están perdiendo sus planes de salud.  Y ya que Obamacare creó costosos requisitos para empresas con más de 50 empleado, ahora muchas de estas empresas no están empleando.  Y algunas incluso están despidiendo o reemplazando empleados de tiempo completo por trabajadores de tiempo parcial.

  ¿Ahora, esto significa que no hay un papel legítimo para el gobierno?  Claro que no.  Sí tiene un papel crucial en protegernos, hacer cumplir las reglas y ofrecernos cierta seguridad frente los riesgos de la vida moderna.  Pero ese papel lo limita nuestra Constitución.  Y nuestro gobierno no puede cumplir su papel esencial cuándo ignora esos límites.

  Hay razones válidas para estar preocupados por el plan del presidente para crecer el gobierno.  Pero cuando algunos de nosotros cuestionamos la agenda del presidente, él y sus aliados usualmente responden atacando nuestros motivos.

  Si se le señala que no importa cuántas leyes aprobamos, nuestro gobierno no puede cambiar el clima, se nos acusa de querer agua sucia y aire sucio.

  Si sugerimos que debemos fortalecer nuestros programas de protección social, dándole más flexibilidad a los estados para manejarlos, él nos acusa de querer dejar a las personas mayores y discapacitadas para que se cuiden por sí mismas.

  Y esta noche, él hasta nos criticó por negarnos a subir los impuestos para evitar recortes a nuestras fuerzas armadas – recortes que él mismo propuso, en primer lugar.

  Pero su ataque favorito es que aquellos que no apoyan su agenda – sólo están preocupados por los ricos.

  Señor Presidente, yo todavía vivo en el mismo vecindario de la clase trabajadora donde crecí. Mis vecinos no son millonarios. Son jubilados que dependen del Seguro Social y Medicare. Son trabajadores que tienen que levantarse temprano en la mañana e ir a trabajar para pagar las cuentas. Son inmigrantes que vinieron aquí porque estaban permanentemente sumidos en la pobreza en los países donde el gobierno dominaba la economía. 

  Los impuestos y gastos de déficit que usted desea le quitarán a los trabajadores de la clase media su aumento salarial, beneficios y tal vez incluso sus puestos de trabajo. Y lastimará a las personas mayores porque no hace nada para salvar a Medicare y el Seguro Social. 

  Entonces señor Presidente, no me opongo a sus planes porque quiero proteger a los ricos. Me opongo a sus planes, porque quiero proteger a mis vecinos.

  Y personas como ellos que no necesitan un plan que haga crecer el gobierno. Ellos quieren un plan para hacer crecer nuestra clase media.

  El crecimiento económico es la única forma legítima para ayudar a crecer la clase media. Desafortunadamente, nuestra economía se contrajo durante el último trimestre de 2012.

  Pero si pudiéramos hacer que la economía creciera un 4 por ciento por año, se crearían millones de empleos para la clase media.  Y esto podría reducir nuestro déficit en casi 4 trillones de dólares durante la próxima década.

  No hay ningún aumento de impuestos que pueda logar eso. Aumentando los impuestos no va a crear puestos de trabajo en el sector privado.  Y no existe un aumento de impuestos realista que pueda reducir nuestra deuda por casi 4 trillones de dólares.  Esa es la razón por la cual yo espero que el presidente abandone su obsesión de aumentar los impuestos y trabaje con nosotros para lograr este tipo de crecimiento real en nuestra economía.

  Una de las maneras más rápidas en que podemos promover el crecimiento es a través de nuestra industria energética. La energía solar y del viento debe ser parte de nuestra estrategia.  Pero Dios ha bendecido a nuestro país con recursos naturales, incluso carbón, petróleo y gas natural. En vez de seguir desperdiciando el dinero del contribuyente en apoyar compañías en bancarrota como Solyndra, debemos abrir las tierras federales para explorar más energía en forma segura y responsable.  También debemos reformar las regulaciones para que sean razonables y basadas en el sentido común. Eso ayudará a crear mejores empleos para la clase media en la industria energética, y traerá de nuevo la producción industrial de lugares como la China.

  Simplificando nuestro código tributario también ayudará a crear oportunidades para la clase media al hacerlo más sencillo para las pequeñas empresas que buscan contratar a nuevos empleados.

  Y estamos de acuerdo con el presidente de que debemos reducir nuestros impuestos corporativos – que actualmente son entre los más altos del mundo – para que nuestras compañías tengan más incentivo para traer su dinero y puestos de trabajo aquí, desde el extranjero.

  También podemos ayudar a que nuestra economía crezca si tenemos un sistema de inmigración legal que nos permita atraer a los mejores y más brillantes profesionales del mundo y asimilarlos a nuestra forma de vida. Necesitamos una solución responsable y permanente para el problema de los que están aquí ilegalmente. Pero primero tenemos que cumplir con las promesas del pasado, asegurar nuestras fronteras y aplicar nuestras leyes.

  Más allá de estos temas, un sistema educativo que le dé a la gente las habilidades y conocimientos que necesitan para los trabajos de la clase media de hoy y mañana – es otra forma en que podemos fomentar el crecimiento de la clase media.

  Necesitamos que los distritos escolares locales ofrezcan cursos de enseñanza más avanzados y con más formación profesional y entrenamiento para carreras.

  Tenemos que ofrecer a todos los padres, especialmente a los padres de niños con necesidades especiales, la oportunidad de enviar a sus hijos a la escuela pública o privada de su elección.

  Y porque la matrícula universitaria ha crecido tan rápidamente, tenemos que cambiar la forma en que pagamos la educación superior.

  Yo apoyo la ayuda financiera federal.  Yo nunca habría podido ir a la universidad sin esta ayuda.  Pero la cuestión de estos programas no es sólo gastar más dinero; es de mejorarlos y modernizarlos.

  La fuerza laboral de este siglo no debe aceptar las soluciones educativas del siglo pasado.  Los estudiantes de hoy no son sólo de 18 años de edad. Son los veteranos que regresan de la guerra. Son los padres solteros que deciden obtener la educación que necesitan para ganar un salario decente. Y son los trabajadores que han perdido los empleos que nunca volverán y necesitan ser re-entrenados.

  Necesitamos ayuda estudiantil que no discrimine contra los programas de los que dependen los estudiantes de mayor edad – como cursos en el Internet, o programas que le dan crédito por experiencia laboral.

  Cuando yo terminé mis estudios, debía más de cien mil dólares, una deuda que terminé de pagar hace apenas unos meses. Hoy, muchas personas enfrentan enormes deudas de préstamos estudiantiles.  Tenemos que encontrar una forma de dar a los estudiantes más información sobre los costos y beneficios de los préstamos estudiantiles que están pidiendo.

  Todas estas medidas ayudarán a que crezca nuestra economía.  Pero no podremos sostener una clase media vibrante si no resolvemos nuestra deuda nacional.

  Cada dólar que el gobierno toma prestado es dinero que no está creando puestos de trabajo al ser invertido en una empresa. Y la incertidumbre causada por la deuda es una razón por la cual muchas empresas no están contratando a nuevos empleados

  Al presidente le gusta echar la culpa sobre la deuda al presidente Bush.  Pero el presidente Obama creó más deuda en cuatro años que el presidente Bush creo en ocho.

  La verdadera causa de nuestra deuda es que el gobierno ha estado gastando un trillón de dólares más de lo que recibe en impuestos cada año.  Por eso necesitamos una enmienda a la Constitución que requiere un presupuesto balanceado.

  Y la gran parte de nuestra deuda se debe a programas con gastos controlados por la ley.  Uno de estos, Medicare, es especialmente importante para mí. Proporcionó a mi padre el cuidado que necesitaba para combatir el cáncer y en última instancia morir con dignidad. Y paga por el cuidado que mi madre recibe hoy día.

  Yo nunca apoyaría ningún cambio a Medicare que haga daño a las personas mayores como mi madre que se encuentran actualmente en el programa. Porque cualquiera que esté a favor de dejar Medicare exactamente de la forma en la que está ahora, está a favor de su bancarrota.

  Los republicanos ya hemos ofrecido un plan detallado y creíble que ayuda a salvar a Medicare sin afectar a los jubilados de hoy. ¿En vez de jugar juegos políticos con Medicare, cuándo el presidente va a ofrecer su plan para salvarlo?  Esta noche hubiera sido un buen momento para ofrecerlo.

  Obviamente, enfrentamos otros retos. Todos sentimos el dolor tras la reciente tragedia en Connecticut.  Necesitamos lidiar con la violencia en nuestro país.  Pero disminuyendo los derechos constitucionales de los estadounidenses bajo la Segunda Enmienda no es la manera de hacerlo.

  Y en el extranjero, los Estados Unidos sigue siendo indispensable para realizar las metas de libertad, paz, prosperidad y la protección de los derechos humanos. El mundo es más estable porque los Estados Unidos es el país más poderoso.  Pero no podemos seguir siendo la nación más poderosa, si no tenemos una economía sostenible.

  En los dos años que yo he estado aquí en Washington, nada me ha frustrado más que el flujo constante de falsas opciones entre las que siempre se nos pide escoger – como las que el presidente presentó esta noche.

  No tenemos que escoger entre un gobierno grande o las grandes empresas. En lugar de eso, necesitamos un gobierno limitado pero eficaz que permita a las pequeñas y nuevas empresas crear empleos para la clase media.

  No tenemos que subir los impuestos para evitar los devastadores recortes a nuestras fuerzas armadas.  Los republicanos hemos aprobado un plan que reemplaza estos recortes con reformas responsables.

  Para balancear nuestro presupuesto, no tenemos que escoger entre impuestos más altos o negarles a las personas la ayuda que necesitan del gobierno. En lugar de eso, vamos a permitir que la economía crezca para que estemos creando nuevos contribuyentes, en vez de nuevos impuestos, y para que nuestro gobierno pueda seguir ayudando a los que realmente necesitan ayuda.

  Y la verdad es que todos nuestros problemas no pueden ser solucionados por el gobierno.  Muchos son causados por la descomposición moral en nuestra sociedad. Y las respuestas a estos desafíos se encuentran principalmente en nuestras familias y nuestras creencias, no en nuestros políticos.

  A pesar de nuestras diferencias, yo se que ambos los republicanos y los demócratas aman a nuestro país.  Le pido a Dios que podamos unirnos a resolver nuestros problemas, porque las opciones ante nosotros tendrán un impacto profundo. 

  Si podemos hacer que nuestra economía crezca nuevamente, nuestros hijos serán como nunca los estadounidenses más prósperos. Y si no lo hacemos, entonces nosotros siempre seremos conocidos como la generación responsable por dejar caer en decadencia a los Estados Unidos.

  En un momento cuando nuestra política ha venido convirtiéndose en un teatro, donde un enfrentamiento tras otro termina en operaciones a corto plazo que hacen poco o nada sobre nuestros verdaderos problemas, algunos creen que no somos capaces de tomar la decisión correcta.

  Pero nuestra fortaleza nunca ha venido de la Casa Blanca o del Capitolio. Ha venido siempre de nuestro pueblo. Un pueblo unido por la idea americana de que, si uno tiene un sueño y está dispuesto a trabajar duro, nada debería ser imposible.

  Aquí, celebramos a quienes tienen éxito. Pero siempre han sido los sueños de los que todavía están tratando de alcanzar el éxito que nos separa del resto del mundo.

  Esta noche, en toda esta tierra, hay padres que abrazarán a su hijo recién nacido por primera vez. Para muchos de ellos, la vida no ha seguido el camino que habían planeado.

  Quizás han nacido en circunstancias que han encontrado difícil de escapar. Quizás han cometido algunos errores en el camino. Quizás son madres jóvenes que están solas esta noche, porque el padre de su hijo se fue hace mucho tiempo.

  Pero esta noche, cuando miren a los ojos de su hijo por primera vez, su vida cambiará para siempre. Porque en esos ojos verán lo que mis padres vieron en mí y lo que sus padres vieron en usted. Verán todas las esperanzas y sueños que alguna vez tuvieron para sí mismos.

  Este sueño – de una vida mejor para sus hijos – es la esperanza de padres en todas partes. Muchos políticos aquí y en todo el mundo han hecho la promesa de que un gobierno más grande puede hacer realidad esos sueños.

  Pero nosotros siempre hemos sabido mejor que esto. Desde nuestra fundación, hemos confiado en la libertad económica. Y por eso, éste es uno de los pocos lugares en el mundo donde estos sueños aún tienen la oportunidad de realizarse.

  Cada vez que nuestra nación ha enfrentado grandes retos, nuestra esperanza de una vida mejor nos ha unido.

  Ahora, dejemos que esa esperanza nos una nuevamente – para resolver los desafíos de nuestro tiempo y escribir el próximo capítulo de la increíble historia de la nación más grande que el hombre jamás ha conocido.

  Gracias por escuchar.  Que Dios los bendiga a todos ustedes. Que Dios bendiga a nuestro Presidente. Y que Dios continúe bendiciendo a los Estados Unidos de América.

  ###

Transcript of Obama's Second Inaugural Address

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

  EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY

January 21, 2013

  Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery

Inaugural Address

Monday, January 21, 2013

Washington, DC

  As Prepared for Delivery –

  Vice President Biden, Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: 

  Each time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution.  We affirm the promise of our democracy.  We recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names.  What makes us exceptional – what makes us American – is our allegiance to an idea, articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago:

  “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” 

  Today we continue a never-ending journey, to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time.  For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they have never been self-executing; that while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Earth.  The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob.  They gave to us a Republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed. 

  For more than two hundred years, we have. 

  Through blood drawn by lash and blood drawn by sword, we learned that no union founded on the principles of liberty and equality could survive half-slave and half-free.  We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forward together. 

  Together, we determined that a modern economy requires railroads and highways to speed travel and commerce; schools and colleges to train our workers.

  Together, we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play. 

  Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life’s worst hazards and misfortune.

  Through it all, we have never relinquished our skepticism of central authority, nor have we succumbed to the fiction that all society’s ills can be cured through government alone.  Our celebration of initiative and enterprise; our insistence on hard work and personal responsibility, are constants in our character.

  But we have always understood that when times change, so must we; that fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges; that preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action.  For the American people can no more meet the demands of today’s world by acting alone than American soldiers could have met the forces of fascism or communism with muskets and militias.  No single person can train all the math and science teachers we’ll need to equip our children for the future, or build the roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to our shores.  Now, more than ever, we must do these things together, as one nation, and one people. 

  This generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience.  A decade of war is now ending.  An economic recovery has begun.  America’s possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands:  youth and drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention.   My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it – so long as we seize it together. 

  For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it.  We believe that America’s prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class.  We know that America thrives when every person can find independence and pride in their work; when the wages of honest labor liberate families from the brink of hardship.  We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is an American, she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own. 

  We understand that outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time.  We must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder, learn more, and reach higher.  But while the means will change, our purpose endures:  a nation that rewards the effort and determination of every single American.  That is what this moment requires.  That is what will give real meaning to our creed.  

  We, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity.  We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit.  But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future.  For we remember the lessons of our past, when twilight years were spent in poverty, and parents of a child with a disability had nowhere to turn.  We do not believe that in this country, freedom is reserved for the lucky, or happiness for the few.  We recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives, any one of us, at any time, may face a job loss, or a sudden illness, or a home swept away in a terrible storm. The commitments we make to each other – through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security – these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us.  They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great. 

  We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity.  We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.  Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms.  The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult.  But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it.  We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries – we must claim its promise.  That is how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure – our forests and waterways; our croplands and snowcapped peaks.  That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God.  That’s what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared.

  We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war.  Our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by the flames of battle, are unmatched in skill and courage.  Our citizens, seared by the memory of those we have lost, know too well the price that is paid for liberty.  The knowledge of their sacrifice will keep us forever vigilant against those who would do us harm.  But we are also heirs to those who won the peace and not just the war, who turned sworn enemies into the surest of friends, and we must carry those lessons into this time as well.

  We will defend our people and uphold our values through strength of arms and rule of law.  We will show the courage to try and resolve our differences with other nations peacefully – not because we are naïve about the dangers we face, but because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear.  America will remain the anchor of strong alliances in every corner of the globe; and we will renew those institutions that extend our capacity to manage crisis abroad, for no one has a greater stake in a peaceful world than its most powerful nation.  We will support democracy from Asia to Africa; from the Americas to the Middle East, because our interests and our conscience compel us to act on behalf of those who long for freedom.  And we must be a source of hope to the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the victims of prejudice – not out of mere charity, but because peace in our time requires the constant advance of those principles that our common creed describes:  tolerance and opportunity; human dignity and justice. 

  We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths – that all of us are created equal – is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth. 

  It is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began.  For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts.  Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.  Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote.  Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity; until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country.  Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm. 

  That is our generation’s task – to make these words, these rights, these values – of Life, and Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness – real for every American.  Being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every contour of life; it does not mean we will all define liberty in exactly the same way, or follow the same precise path to happiness.  Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time – but it does require us to act in our time. 

  For now decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay.  We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate.  We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect.  We must act, knowing that today’s victories will be only partial, and that it will be up to those who stand here in four years, and forty years, and four hundred years hence to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.

  My fellow Americans, the oath I have sworn before you today, like the one recited by others who serve in this Capitol, was an oath to God and country, not party or faction – and we must faithfully execute that pledge during the duration of our service.  But the words I spoke today are not so different from the oath that is taken each time a soldier signs up for duty, or an immigrant realizes her dream.  My oath is not so different from the pledge we all make to the flag that waves above and that fills our hearts with pride. 

  They are the words of citizens, and they represent our greatest hope. 

  You and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country’s course. 

  You and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time – not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals. 

  Let each of us now embrace, with solemn duty and awesome joy, what is our lasting birthright.  With common effort and common purpose, with passion and dedication, let us answer the call of history, and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom. 

  Thank you, God Bless you, and may He forever bless these United States of America.

  ###

Here's the president's schedule for inauguration weekend

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 18, 2013

WEEKEND GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013, SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2013 AND MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2013

On Saturday, the First Family will join in the National Day of Service as part of the 57th Presidential Inauguration by participating in a community service project in the Washington, DC area. There will be travel pool coverage of the community service project.

On Sunday morning, the President and the Vice President will participate in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. There will be travel pool coverage of the ceremony.

Later in the morning on Sunday, the President will take the oath of office at the official swearing-in ceremony in the Blue Room of the White House. The First Family will also attend. This ceremony will be pooled press.

In the evening on Sunday, the President and the Vice President will deliver remarks at an inaugural reception. The First Lady and Dr. Biden will also deliver remarks. There will be travel pool coverage.

On Monday morning, the First Family, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will attend a church service at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC. There will be print pool coverage of the service.

Later in the morning, the First Family will depart to the United States Capitol where the President will be sworn in. The President will then deliver remarks. The Vice President, the First Lady and Dr. Biden will also attend. This ceremony is open to pre-credentialed media.

Afterwards, the President, the Vice President, the First Lady and Dr. Biden will attend an inaugural luncheon at the United States Capitol Building. The inaugural luncheon will have JCCIC/Senate Gallery pre-credentialed pool coverage.

Later in the day, the President, the Vice President, the First Lady and Dr. Biden will participate in the inaugural parade. The inaugural parade is open to pre-credentialed media.

Later, the First Family, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will watch the inaugural parade from the presidential reviewing stand. The procession to the presidential reviewing stand is open to pre-credentialed media.

In the evening, the President, the Vice President, the First Lady and Dr. Biden will attend the Commander-in-Chief’s Inaugural Ball and the Inaugural Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. There will be in-town travel pool coverage for all these inaugural balls.

The president sucks at negotiating

Ezra Klein:

Story behind the story: Jack Lew's signature

News broke this morning that President Obama had decided on Jack Lew as his next Treasury secretary. The headline flashed across the Bloomberg wire at 9:45 a.m. (based on @zerohedge's tweet) and didn't really come as a surprise to anyone. Lew, the current White House chief of staff, had been the president's favorite for the job for weeks.

Once I saw that Lew had been picked and a few minutes of staring at Tweetdeck confirmed it, I broke the news in our Daily Intelligencer office chat room, where myself and the rest of the team of editors and writers swap links and talk about the news and so forth. I think I said "lew for treasury." 

Remarks by the President to Servicemembers and their Families

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release December 25, 2012 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT TO SERVICEMEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES Marine Corps Base Hawaii Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii 4:17 P.M. HST THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! Well, it is wonderful to see all of you. First of all, we want to say Merry Christmas to everybody. AUDIENCE: Merry Christmas! THE PRESIDENT: This looks like it was a nice rather than naughty crowd –- (laughter) -– so I’m sure Santa treated you well. On behalf of Michelle and myself and our whole family -- we do this every year. This is where I was born, and so we come back for the holidays. But one of our favorite things is always coming to the base on Christmas Day and having a chance just to meet you, those of you who have families here, and to say thank you for the extraordinary work and service that you guys do each and every day. Obviously, the greatest honor I have as President is being Commander-in-Chief. And the reason it’s an honor is because not only do we have the finest military in the world but we also have the finest fighting men and women in the world. And so many of you make sacrifices day in, day out on behalf of our freedom, on behalf of our security. And not only do those in uniform make sacrifices, but I think everybody here understands the sacrifices that families make each and every day as well. And Michelle, working with Dr. Jill Biden, has done a lot of work to focus attention on our military families to make sure that you get the support that you have earned and that you deserve. So I’m not going to make a long speech. Obviously, we’re still in a wartime footing. There are still folks, as we speak, who are overseas, especially in Afghanistan, risking their lives each and every day. Some of you may have loved ones who are deployed there. Some of you may be about to be deployed there. And so we know that it’s not easy. But what we also want you to know is that you have the entire country behind you, and that all of us understand that we would be nowhere without the extraordinary service that you guys provide. And so we want to say thank you, we love you. And with that, what we’re going to do is we’re going to slip back here. Last couple of years we went from table to table but we kept on missing tables and some folks didn’t get pictures. So this time we’re going to do it in a slightly more organized fashion so that people who want to take a picture, we’re going to be standing right here next to a tree. You guys will be able to come up. You can take your time –- those of you who are still finishing your meals. The only thing we’d ask, I think, is when we’re taking the photos -- people will get copies of this stuff, so I know everybody these days has a phone all the time. But we have a White House photographer who’s pretty good. (Laughter.) He knows what he’s doing. And we’ll make sure that the photographs come back through the General, through your commanding officer, so that everybody who is here today will be able to get a copy. All right, thank you very much, everybody. And have a great New Year as well. Happy New Year! (Applause.) END 4:20 P.M. HST ----- The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW · Washington DC 20500 · 202-456-1111

The New York Times, Dec. 12, 1912.

Full statement from the White House on North Korean missile launch

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 11, 2012

Statement from NSC Spokesman Tommy Vietor on North Korea’s Missile Launch

North Korea’s launch today—using ballistic missile technology despite express prohibitions by United Nations Security Council resolutions—is a highly provocative act that threatens regional security, directly violates United Nations Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874, contravenes North Korea’s international obligations, and undermines the global non-proliferation regime.  This action is yet another example of North Korea’s pattern of irresponsible behavior.  The United States remains vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and fully committed to the security of our allies in the region. Given this current threat to regional security, the United States will strengthen and increase our close coordination with allies and partners.

On April 16, 2012, the United Nations Security Council expressed its “determination to take action accordingly in the event of a further [North Korean] launch.”  In the hours and days ahead, the United States will work with its Six-Party partners, the United Nations Security Council, and other UN member states to pursue appropriate action.  The international community must work in a concerted fashion to send North Korea a clear message that its violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions have consequences.  The international community continues to insist that North Korea live up to its commitments, adhere to its international obligations, and deal peacefully with its neighbors. 

North Korea is only further isolating itself by engaging in such provocative acts.  Devoting scarce resources to the development of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons has not brought it security and acceptance by the international community—and never will.  North Korea will only truly strengthen itself by abiding by international norms, living up to its commitments and international obligations, and working to feed its citizens, to educate its children, and to win the trust of its neighbors.

-----

Scalia on gay marriage

The Daily Princetonian, via @ZekeJMiller:

“If we cannot have moral feelings against or objections to homosexuality, can we have it against anything?” Scalia asked, explaining his dissent. “It’s a reduction to the absurd ... I don’t think it’s necessary but I think it’s effective,” Scalia said, adding dryly, “I’m surprised you weren’t persuaded.”

(Emphasis mine.)

Just got really excited for a second for a really lame reason

"Golly gee whiz, Tom Goldstein! This beats that Katie Couric retweet by a mile!"

Then...

But I'm sure he's a nice guy anyway.

Day's over.

Best paragraph I've read all day.

Here are the CEOs attending tomorrow's meeting at the White House

Roosevelt Room at 4:45 p.m.