Union members gathered for Labor Fest for the first time in 2 years (the event was cancelled last year). The President Obama gave a speech which you can see here (sorry - not embeddable) (I was finally able to embed it).
It wasn't Obamas first time at Labor Fest either. It was his third time in 6 years (he spoke previously in 2008 and 2010.
His speech lasted just over 30 minutes, but he covered a lot of territory in that time. It's well worth your time for his emphasis on labor, the progress we've made during his presidency, and the issues of today.
If you work full-time you shouldn't be living in poverty," Obama said as he called once again for Congress to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour.
Obama said 13 states and Washington, D.C., had raised their minimum wage.
"The states where the minimum wage has gone up this year have higher job growth than the states that didn't raise the minimum wage," he said.
"There is no denying a simple truth: America deserves a raise."
Increases in minimum wage are always championed by labor unions despite the fact that union members generally make much higher salaries gained through negotiated contracts. That's because labor unions feel the need to protect and serve
all workers and all people, not just their members.
Obama said "millions of more Americans" now have a quality, peace-of-mind health insurance they can depend on since the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
"You wouldn't always know it from Washington news — by almost every measure, the American economy, the American workers are better off than when I took office," he said. "We're better off by almost every measure."
Obama said he has had to fight for "every inch" of progress and "work against a lock-step opposition that is opposed to everything we do."
"But it's worth it, every gray hair is worth it," Obama joked. "...And at least I've got some hair."
Obama admitted the country had struggles and work to do "but there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about America."
The president said it was a good thing the stock market was high and corporate profits were booming. But he said he also wanted to see workers make advances.
The speech is well worth viewing, but if you need it, a transcript was available from one of the local stations and is below the cheese curd.
The President was met at the airport by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D), Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele (D), and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R). He had a private meeting with Walkers election opponent, Mary Burke (D).
Enjoy Labor Day and support workers who brought it to you.
(transcript only below the cheese curd)
Transcript via WISN TV web site
Part 1
MILWAUKEE! THANK YOU! IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK IN MILWAUKEE [APPLAUSE] GIVE CHRIS A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT GREAT INTRODUCTION. [APPLAUSE] HAPPY LABOR DAY, EVERYBODY. HAPPY LABOR DAY. [APPLAUSE] TODAY IS A DAY THAT BELONGS TO YOU. [APPLAUSE] THE WORKING MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAKE AMERICA THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH. SO THANK YOU. TO THE WORKING FOLKS WHO ARE HERE TODAY, AND THE UNIONS WHO HAVE ALWAYS HAD YOUR BACK. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU TO THE MILWAUKEE AREA LABOR COUNCIL. TO THE WISCONSIN AFL-CIO. IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK AT LABORFEST. I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND I BROUGHT A FRIEND WITH ME, SOMEONE I AM EXCITED TO WORK WITH EVERY DAY -- SECRETARY TOM PEREZ IS IN THE HOUSE. AND I JUST FOUND OUT TOM -- TOM'S WIFE IS FROM MILWAUKEE. SO HIS FATHER-IN-LAW IS HERE. SO I JUST TOLD HIS FATHER-IN-LAW HE IS DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB, BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE A GUY LOOK GOOD IN FRONT OF HIS FATHER-IN-LAW. WE GOT SOME OTHER FRIENDS I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE. FIRST OF ALL, YOUR CONGRESSWOMAN, AND GWEN MOORE, -- YOUR CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE IS HERE. YOUR MAYOR TOM BARRETT IS IN THE HOUSE. WE HAVE GOT ONE OF MY FAVORITE 'S FROM SCIU. LILY GARCIA FROM NEA. MY PAL, NOT A PACKERS FAN -- HE'S A STEELERS FAN, BUT A GOOD GUY ANYWAY -- LEO. BILLY FROM UA. JOHANSEN FROM USC W -- JOE HANSON FROM USCW. WE ARE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU, LABOR LEADERS. WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THE THINGS ALL TOO OFTEN WE TAKE FOR GRANTED. ANYBODY WHO HAS GOT A SEAT, FEEL FREE TO SIT DOWN. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY THINKING. IT'S SO HOT OUT HERE. I MIGHT GET YOU BACK UP ON YOUR FEET AT SOME POINT. -- I DON'T WANT ANYBODY FAINTING. WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE SOMETHING THAT SOMETIMES THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED , THE 40 HOUR WORKWEEK. OVERTIME PAY. A MINIMUM WAGE. WEEKENDS LIKE THIS ONE. ALL THAT DID NOT HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT. IT HAPPENED BECAUSE AMERICA'S WORKERS ORGANIZED FOR IT. FOR FOR IT. -- FOUGHT FOR IT. HISTORY SHOWS THAT WORKING FAMILIES CAN GET A FAIR SHOT IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT ONLY IF WE ARE WILLING TO FIGHT FOR IT. THE FIRST TIME I CAME TO LABORFEST, I WAS STILL A CANDIDATE, BACK IN 2008. [APPLAUSE] AND DURING THAT CAMPAIGN, I PROMISED, IF YOU SEND ME TO THE WHITE HOUSE, I WOULD STAND WITH YOU IN THAT FIGHT. [APPLAUSE] NOW, TWO WEEKS LATER, OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM COLLAPSED. A RECESSION ALMOST BECAME A DEPRESSION. IN THE YEARS SINCE, OUR COUNTRY HAS FACED A CHOICE. THERE IS SOME FOLKS WHO WANTED TO PLACE AN EVEN BIGGER BET ON TOP-DOWN ECONOMICS, THE KIND OF ECONOMICS THAT HELPED CAUSE THE CRISIS IN THE FIRST PLACE. MORE TAX CUTS FOR THOSE AT THE TOP. FEWER RULES FOR BIG BANKS AND CORPORATIONS. BLIND FAITH THAT MAYBE PROSPERITY WOULD FINALLY TRICKLE DOWN ON THE REST OF US, IF FOLKS UP ON THE TOP CAP ON DOING BETTER AND BETTER. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, MILWAUKEE? I DID NOT RUN FOR PRESIDENT TO DOUBLE DOWN ON TOP-DOWN ECONOMICS. I RAN FOR PRESIDENT BECAUSE I BELIEVED IN BOTTOM-UP ECONOMICS, MIDDLE-OUT ECONOMICS. I PLACED A BET ON YOU. I PLACED THE BET ON AMERICA'S WORKERS. [APPLAUSE] I PUT MY MONEY ON AMERICAN WORKERS. AND THE BELIEF THAT OUR ECONOMY GROWS BEST WHEN EVERYBODY HAS GOT A SHOT, WHEN FOLKS WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK HARD CAN GET INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS AND STAY IN THE MIDDLE CLASS. I HAVE COME BACK TO LABORFEST TO SAY THAT BECAUSE OF YOUR HARD WORK, BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH TOGETHER, THAT BIT -- BET IS STARTING TO PAY OFF. AMERICA IS STRONGER BECAUSE OF THE DECISIONS WE MADE TO RESCUE OUR ECONOMY AND REBUILD IT ON A NEW FOUNDATION, ASKING THE SIMPLE QUESTION, IS THIS GOOD FOR ORDINARY AMERICANS? IS THIS GOOD FOR WORKING PEOPLE? NOT JUST A FEW, BUT FOR EVERYBODY. OVER THE PAST 53 MONTHS, OUR BUSINESSES HAVE CREATED NEARLY 10 MILLION NEW JOBS. [APPLAUSE] WE ARE ON A STREET -- S TREAK WHERE LAST SIX MONTHS WEEK RAIDED MORE THAN 200,000 JOBS EACH MONTH. THAT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE 1997. CONSTRUCTION IS REBOUNDING. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY ARE BOOMING. AMERICAN MANUFACTURING IS STEADILY CREATING JOBS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 1990'S. OUR BUSINESSES EXPORT MORE GOODS MADE RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA TO THE REST OF THE WORLD THAN EVER BEFORE. [APPLAUSE] AMERICA IS STRONGER BECAUSE WE SAVED THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY AND MORE THAN ONE MILLION JOBS THAT DEPEND ON THE AUTO INDUSTRY. [APPLAUSE] TODAY, OUR WORKERS ARE BUILDING MORE CARS THAN ANY TIME SINCE 2002. AND BY THE WAY, THEY ARE REALLY GOOD CARDS. THE AUTO INDUSTRY IS ADDING JOBS AT THE STRONGEST RATE SINCE THE 1990'S. AMERICA IS STRONGER BECAUSE WE INVESTED IN HOME-GROWN ENERGY. THE WORLD'S NUMBER ONE OIL AND GAS PRODUCER IS NOT RUSSIA. IT'S NOT SAUDI ARABIA. IT'S THE U.S. OF A. WE ARE THE LARGEST PRODUCER. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 20 YEARS, AMERICA NOW PRODUCES MORE OIL THAN WE BUY FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. BUT WE ARE ALSO -- WE ARE ALSO PRODUCING MORE CLEAN ENERGY, PUTTING FOLKS BACK TO WORK. WE HAVE TRIPLED THE AMOUNT OF WIND POWER THAT CREATES ENERGY. WE HAVE INCREASED BY 10 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF SOLAR POWER WE CREATE. AND ALL OF THAT IS CREATING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GOOD JOBS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. [APPLAUSE] AMERICA IS STRONGER BECAUSE WE SET OUR SCHOOLS ON A RACE TO THE TOP. WE HELPED MORE MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES AFFORD COLLEGE. TODAY, THANKS TO OUTSTANDING TEACHERS, OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE IS AT A RECORD HIGH. [APPLAUSE] MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EARNING THEIR COLLEGE DEGREES THAN EVER BEFORE. AMERICA IS STRONGER BECAUSE WE HELP MILLIONS OF RESPONSIBLE HOMEOWNERS STAY IN THEIR HOMES. AND WE HAVE GOT SOME OF THE BIGGEST BANKS, WHO SOLD DECEPTIVE MORTGAGES, TO HELP MAKE THINGS RIGHT. THEY ARE PONYING UP BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO RIGHT BY FOLKS WHO GOT CHEATED. WE CHANGED THE TAX CODE THAT WAS SKEWED TOO MUCH TOWARD THE WEALTHY AT THE EXPENSE OF WORKING FAMILIES. WE MADE SURE, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU GUYS HAVE GOT TO PAY A LITTLE MORE. AS A CONSEQUENCE, WE CUT OUR DEFICIT BY MORE THAN HALF. [APPLAUSE] AND YES, MILWAUKEE, AMERICA IS LONGER BECAUSE MILLIONS MORE AMERICANS HAVE THE PEACE OF MIND OF QUALITY AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT THEY CAN COUNT ON. [APPLAUSE] YEAH, WE DID THAT. [APPLAUSE] SO I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE YOU WOULD NOT ALWAYS KNOW IT FROM WATCHING THE NEWS -- BUT ALMOST EVERY MEASURE, THE AMERICAN ECONOMY, AMERICAN WORKERS, ARE BETTER OFF THAN WHEN I TOOK OFFICE. WE ARE BETTER OFF BY ALMOST EVERY MEASURE. BUT LOOK -- NONE OF THIS PROGRESS HAS COME EASY. EVERY INCH OF IT, WE HAVE HAD TO FIGHT FOR. EVERY INCH OF IT, WE HAVE HAD TO WORK AGAINST A LOCKSTEP OPPOSITION THAT IS OPPOSED TO EVERYTHING WE DO. BUT IT IS WORTH IT. EVERY GRAY HAIR IS WORTH IT. [APPLAUSE] EVERY GRAY HAIR IS WORTH IT. AND AT LEAST I'VE STILL GOT SOME HAIR. I LOOK GOOD? I LIKE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHENEVER FOLKS SAY -- WHENEVER THEY SEE ME, THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK OK, WHAT THEY ARE SURPRISED. IN TALLER THAN I DO ON TV . THAT'S BECAUSE THE TV MAKES ME LOOK SMALLER. IT THANKS TO THE GRIT, THE RESILIENCE OF WORKING AMERICANS THAT THIS COUNTRY WE LOVE HAVE SOME FURTHER THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER ADVANCED ECONOMY. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER BUSINESS LEADERS WHEN YOU ASK THEM WHERE TO INVEST, WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE PLACE TO INVEST , THEY DON'T SAY CHINA. THEY DON'T SAY GERMANY. THEY SAY THE UNITED DATES OF AMERICA. -- STATES OF AMERICA. [APPLAUSE] USA! USA, USA, USA! I AM SAYING ALL OF THIS IS BECAUSE SOMETIMES IF YOU ARE WATCHING TV, IT IS A DOWNER. WE GOT STRUGGLES. WE GOT WORK TO DO. THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT AMERICA. THE ECONOMY IS STRONGER. THE ENGINES ARE REVVING A LITTLE LOUDER. THE QUESTION NOW IS ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION TO ACCELERATE THIS PROGRESS. ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON WORKING? ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INSURE A GROWING ECONOMY GIVES EVERYONE ACCESS TO RISING WAGES? ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HELPING THE MIDDLE CLASS AND EVERYBODY TRYING TO GET INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS? YES IT MAY SMART EXIT THE GOOD IN CORPORATE PROFITS ARE HIGH. I WANT AMERICAN BUSINESSES TO SUCCEED. IT'S A GOOD THING THE STOCK MARKET IS BOOMING. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE 401(K)S. I WANT THEM TO FEEL GOOD. I ALSO WANT TO SEE THE GUY BREAKING HIS BACKGROUND TO EIGHT HOUR SHIFT SO HE HAS ENOUGH MONEY TO SEND HIS KIDS TO COLLEGE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE HE IS GETTING A BREAK. I WANT TO MAKE SURE HE IS GETTING SOME HELP. I WANT TO SEE THAT WOMAN WHO HAS WORKED FOR 40 YEARS ABLE TO RETIRE WITH SOMETHING THAT HE AND WRIST ACT -- AND RESPECT. THAT'S HOW I MEASURE PROGRESS, NOT JUST HOW THE ECONOMY IS DOING OVERALL, BUT HOW IT IS DOING WITH FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING HARD, DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT, JUST WANT A FAIR SHOT, AND DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING HANDED TO THEM IN THEIR LIFE. WEREN'T BORN WITH A SILVER'S MOON IN THEIR MOUTH. THE REASON THAT IS WHO I AM THINKING ABOUT IS BECAUSE THAT'S THE FAMILY I GREW UP IN. THAT'S THE FAMILY MICHELLE'S FAMILY GREW UP IN. THIS COUNTRY GAVE ME A CHANCE. IT IS MICHELLE A CHANCE. I BELIEVE IN THE AMERICAN DREAM BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED IT. I RAN FOR THIS OFFICE TO RESTORE IT FOR EVERYBODY SO NO MATTER WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE AND NO MATTER WHERE YOU CAME FROM, NO MATTER HOW YOU STARTED, YOU CAN MAKE IT IN AMERICA IF YOU TRY. [APPLAUSE]
Part 2
THAT IS WHAT IS AT STAKE RIGHT NOW, MAKING SURE THE ECONOMY WORKS FOR EVERYBODY. I HAVE GOT A BUSINESS WHERE OPPORTUNITY IS OPEN FOR EVERYONE WILLING TO WORK HARD. I WANT AN ECONOMY WHERE NEW LONG-TERM INVEST IN AN AMERICAN MANUFACTURING AND INNOVATION ARE UNLEASHING NEW JOBS AND INDUSTRIES RIGHT HERE IN WISCONSIN, RIGHT HERE IN MILWAUKEE, AN ECONOMY WHERE ARE WORKERS HAVE A CHANCE TO EARN NEW SKILLS THAT LEAD TO THAT JOB, WHERE CHILDREN GRADUATE FROM SCHOOL FULLY PREPARED FOR THE GLOBAL COMPETITION THEY ARE GOING TO FACE. A WANTON ECONOMY WHERE YOUR HARD WORK PAYS OFF WITH HIGHER WAGES AND HIGHER INCOME AND FAIR PAY FOR WOMEN AND WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY FOR PARENTS AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE AND DECENT RETIREMENT BENEFITS. I'M NOT ASK HIM FOR THE MOON. I JUST WANT A GOOD DEAL FOR AMERICAN WORKERS. SOMETIMES WHEN I TALK ABOUT THIS WITH SOME OF MY FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, THEY ARE LIKE, WHY ARE USED DURING UP CLASS RESENTMENT? I AM NOT STIRRING UP -- WHY ARE YOU STARING UP CLASS RESENTMENT? WORKING FAMILIES ARE FIND THAT PEOPLE ARE RICH. THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A YACHT . THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR THEIR OWN PLANE. THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A MANSION. THEY DON'T NEED TO BE VACATIONING IN SAINT BART'S. ALL THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IS IF THEY WORK HARD THEY CAN PAY THE BILLS, THAT THEY CAN SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL, THAT THEY CAN RETIRE WITH SOME DIGNITY, MAYBE TAKE A VACATION ONCE IN A WHILE, GO TO WISCONSIN DELLS OR SOMETHING. THEY AIN'T LOOKING FOR NOTHING FANCY. [APPLAUSE] THAT'S WHERE MICHELLE AND I USED TO TAKE MELIA AND SASHA . WE WOULD BE IN THE WATER SO LONG , SINGERS ALL PRUNED, -- FINGERS ALL PRUNED UP. THERE WERE A LOT OF KIDS IN THERE, WHICH MAKES YOU A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS ABOUT WATER. THAT WAS NOT IN THE PREPARED REMARKS. MOST OF THE POLICIES I AM TALKING ABOUT HAVE TWO THINGS IN COMMON. THEY ARE GOING TO HELP WORKING FAMILIES GET AHEAD. THE REPUBLICANS WHO RUN OUR CONGRESS OPPOSE ALMOST ALL OF THEM. BOO! DON'T BOO. VOTE. IT'S EASY TO BOO . I WANT YOU TO VOTE. THEY OPPOSE ALMOST EVERYTHING. I'M NOT MAKING THAT UP. I'M JUST TELLING THE TRUTH. THEY OPPOSE STUFF THEY USED TO BEFORE. IT'S TRUE. BASED BEFORE BUILDING ROADS AND BRIDGES. NOT ANYMORE. WHY NOT? BECAUSE YOU PROPOSED IT. I AM JUST TELLING THE TRUTH. THE SKY IS BLUE TODAY. MILWAUKEE BROUGHT OUR DELICIOUS. -- BROTS ARE DELICIOUS. REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS LOVE TO SAY NO. THOSE ARE JUST FACTS OF LIFE. THEY SAY NO TO EVERYTHING. IF WE HAD A CONGRESS THAT CARED ABOUT POLICIES THAT ACTUALLY HELP WORKING PEOPLE, I PROMISED WE COULD GET EVERYTHING DONE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DOING. UNTIL WE HAVE THAT CONGRESS, IT'S UP TO US TO FIGHT FOR THESE IS. WHEREVER I CAN I HAVE A -- FOR THESE HOLIDAYS. WHEREVER I CAN I HAVE ASKED ABOUT MY OWN. I HAVE ACTED ON MY OWN TO MAKE SURE WOMEN HAVE ADDICTIONS THEY NEED IN THE WORK LIST. I THINK WHEN WOMEN EXCEED, AMERICAN SUCCEED. I WAS RAISED VIA A SINGLE MOM. I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS WHERE A LOT OF WOMEN OUT THERE. MEN, YOU SHOULD WANT YOUR WIFE TO BE PAID FAIR. IF SHE IS BRINGING THE MONEY HOME, THAT IS NOT A WOMEN'S ISSUE. THAT IS YOUR ISSUE. THAT IS MONEY OUT OF YOUR FAMILY'S POCKET. THAT'S WHY I TOOK ACTION ON MY OWN TO GIVE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS A CHANCE TO CAP THEIR STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT AT 10% OF THEIR INCOME. THAT'S WHY I ACTED ON MY OWN TO MAKE SURE COMPANIES THAT RECEIVED THAT THEIR CONTRACTS, THAT THEY PAID THEIR WORKERS AT LEAST $10.10 AN HOUR, IF YOU WORK FULL-TIME IN AMERICA YOU SHOULD NOT THE LIVING IN POVERTY. YOU SHOULD NOT BE TRYING TO SUPPORT A FAMILY ON POVERTY. IN THE YEAR AND A HALF SINCE I FIRST ASKED CONGRESS TO RAISE AND AMONG WAGE, OF COURSE CONGRESS LAW -- REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS BLOCKED IT, BUT MORE AMERICANS ARE DOING THEIR PART TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. THIS IS WHY I STAY OPTIMIST IT EVEN WITH SOME OF THE NONSENSE THAT GOES ON IN WASHINGTON. YOU HAVE SEEN BUSINESS LEADERS THAT RAISE WAGES FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT WAS GOOD FOR BUSINESS. YOU SEE MAYORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY DOING THEIR PART. TODAY ON LABOR DAY THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES IS ANNOUNCING A PLAN TO RAISE HIS CITIES MINIMUM WAGE. HERE IS A GOOD STORY. LAST MONTH THE PRESIDENT OF KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY GAVE HIMSELF A PAY CUT SO HE COULD RAISE MONEY FOR PAID EMPLOYEES. 13 STATES, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THEY RAISED THEIR MINIMUM WAGE. 13 STATES ARE PUTTING MINIMUM WAGE ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER. HERE IS THE BEST ART. YOU WILL HEAR OPPONENTS SAY MINIMUM WAGE, THEY ARE GOING TO KILL JOBS. IT TURNS OUT THE STATES WHERE MINIMUM WAGE HAS GONE UP THIS YEAR HAD HIGHER JOB GROWTH THAN THE STATE THAT DIDN'T RAISE AND AMONG WAGE. THAT'S A FACT. ACROSS THE COUNTRY THERE IS A NATIONAL MOVE MEANT GOING ON MADE UP OF FAST FOOD WORKERS. THEY CAN PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES WITH PRIDE AND DIGNITY. THERE IS NO DENYING THE SIMPLE TRUTH. AMERICA DESERVES A RAISE. FOLKS ARE DOING VERY WELL ON WALL STREET. GIVE AMERICA A RAISE. THINK EVENTUALLY CONGRESS IS GOING TO HEAR US. WE WILL JUST KEEP ADDED. -- AT IT. THAT'S HOW I GOT MICHELLE TO MARRY ME. I JUST WORE HER DOWN. PERSISTENCE. YOU JUST THEY ADDED. -- STAY AT IT. THE ONLY THING MORE POWERFUL THAN AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME IS WHEN MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE ORGANIZING AROUND AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME. EARLY IN THE PEOPLE ARE VOTING FOR AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME. I KNOW IT GETS FRUSTRATING. I PROMISE I SHARE THAT FRUSTRATION. AFTER ALL THE UNIONS HAVE DONE TO BUILD AND PROTECT WORKING AMERICANS, I KNOW IT'S FRUSTRATING WHEN PEOPLE HAVE THE GALL TO BLAME YOU FOR THE PROBLEMS FACING WORKING AMERICANS. I KNOW YOU HAVE GOT SOME EXPERIENCE WITH THAT AROUND HERE. YOU KNOW WHAT? IF I WERE LOOKING FOR A GOOD JOB THAT LET ME BUILD SOME SECURITY FOR MY FAMILY, I WOULD JOIN A UNION. IF I WERE BUSTING MY BUT IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY AND WANTED AN HONEST DAYS THEY FOR AN HONEST DAYS WORK, I WOULD JOIN THE UNION. IF I WERE A FIREFIGHTER OR A POLICE OFFICER RISKING MY LIFE AND HELPING TO KEEP MY COMMUNITY SAFE AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE I CAME HOME SAFELY TO MY FAMILY, I WOULD JOIN THE UNION. I WOULD WANT A UNION LOOKING OUT FOR ME. IF I CARED ABOUT THESE THINGS I WOULD WANT MORE DEMOCRATS LOOKING OUT FOR ME. I AM JUST SAYING. WHEN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS WORKING TO RAISE WAGES BUT REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS WON'T, IT AIN'T RIGHT. NOT ONLY IS IT NOT RIGHT. IT AIN'T RIGHT. WHEN THE COUNTRY IS WORKING TO OPEN NEW BUSINESSES AND REPUBLICANS ARE BLOCKING INVESTMENTS, IT WOULD HELP BUSINESSES GROW. IT AIN'T RIGHT. WHEN UNIONS AND CEOS, WHEN LAW-ENFORCEMENT AND EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY, WHEN FOLKS WHO USUALLY DON'T AGREE ON ANYTHING AGREE THAT WE SHOULD BE FIXING OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION THEM, BUT REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN SITTING ON A BILL FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, IT AIN'T RIGHT. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LAST CENTURY PEOPLE WERE AGAINST THE IDEA OF A 40 HOUR WORK WEEK. THEY FOUGHT AGAIN WORK BASED SAFETY LAWS. PEOPLE FOUGHT AGAINST SOCIAL SECURITY. 50 YEARS AGO PEOPLE FOUGHT AGAINST MEDICARE. GUESS WHAT? WE WON THOSE FIGHTS. [APPLAUSE] JUST LIKE IN THE PAST TODAY YOU HAVE GOT PEOPLE FIGHTING AGAINST THE RIGHTS FOR HEALTH CARE TO EVERYBODY OR THE RIGHT TO FAIR WAGES OR THEY EVEN FIGHT AGAINST EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK. WE WILL WIN THOSE FIGHTS , AND I KNOW THAT BECAUSE AMERICA IS THE STORY OF ROB RUST. IT CAN BE SLOW. IT CAN BE FRUSTRATING. SOMETIMES YOU GET HALF A LOAF OR YOU HAD THE WHOLE LOAF. RUNTIMES YOU GET A QUARTER OF THE LOAF. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR HISTORY THE STORY IS RUGRATS. THAT IS BECAUSE THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AMERICANS WHO HAD THE COURAGE TO ORGANIZE AND FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES BUT ALSO TO FIGHT FOR EACH OTHER. I AM ASKING YOU TO DO THE SAME THING. I ASKED YOU TO DO THE SAME THING IN 2000 AND. I ASK YOU TO BELIEVE NOT ONLY TO BRING OUT THE CHANGE WE NEED. I AM ASKING YOU TO BELIEVE IN YOURS. I AM ASKING YOU TO BELIEVE IN YOU. EVEN WHEN OUR POLITICS JUST AIN'T RIGHT, THERE IS A LOT THAT IS RIGHT FOR AMERICANS. AMERICAN THAT TENSION EVERY MORNING AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. AMERICANS WHOSE MOM WHO IS WORKING THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT TO PROVIDE FOR HER KIDS, AMERICANS WHO DREAM IN THE FIRST -- OF THE FIRST IN A FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE, AMERICAN AUTO WORKERS WHO THOUGHT SHE COULD NEVER MAKE A CAR AGAIN AND NOW SHE CANNOT MAKE IT FAST ENOUGH. NOW THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER WHO HELPS BUILD MORE HOMES AND BUSINESSES TO GET SOLAR PANELS ON THE TOP. AMERICA IS ON THE MOVE. AMERICA IS ON THE MOVE. AMERICA IS NOT THE PARTY WE BELONG TO BUT THE VALUES WE SHARE. AMERICA IS HARD WORK. AMERICA IS RISK ON STABILITY. -- RESPONSIBILITY. AMERICA IS SACRIFICED. AMERICA IS LOOKING OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER. ECONOMIC PATRIOTISM SAYS WE RISE AND FALL TOGETHER AS ONE NATION, AS ONE PEOPLE. DON'T REWARD COMPANIES WHO SHIFT JOBS OVERSEAS. REWARD COMPANIES WHO ARE INVESTING RIGHT HERE IN MILWAUKEE. LET MAKE SURE OUR CITIZENS HAVE ACCESS TO GOOD CHILD CARE AND FREE SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AND HEALTH CARE. LET MAKE SURE WOMEN GET FAIR PAY. MAKE SURE WORKING MOMS AND DADS CAN GET A DAY OFF IF THEIR CHILD IS SICK OR THE PARENTS ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME. LET'S MAKE SURE NO ONE IS WORKING FULL-TIME AND RAISING THEIR FAMILY IN POVERTY. THESE IDEAS ARE NOT UN-AMERICAN. THEY ARE HOW WE BUILT AMERICA. TOGETHER. THE HARDEST REAGANITES -- HARDEST THING IN LIFE IS CHANGING STATUS QUO. IT IS EVEN HARDER WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE FOLKS IN POWER ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS HEAPING IN POWER, BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF FOLKS WHO COUNT ON YOU TO GET CYNICAL AND NOT VOTE AGAINST YOU DON'T THINK YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THAT'S HOW THEY BELIEVE YOU ARE GOING TO STAY IN POWER. THEY BELIEVE YOU WON'T ORGANIZE. THEY BELIEVE YOU WON'T VOTE. THAT WAS A SHALL INTEREST STAY IN POWER, -- SPECIAL INTERESTS STAY IN POWER. THEY WILL TRY TO DISTRACT YOU AND BAMBOOZLE YOU. DON'T BUY IT. DESPITE THE CYNICS, AMERICA IS ON THE MOVE. IT'S MAKING PROGRESS. THEY ARE WORKING WITH JOBS WHO DIDN'T HAVE THEM BEFORE. THEY ARE FAMILIES WITH HEALTH INSURANCE WHO DIDN'T HAVE IT BEFORE. THERE ARE TROOPS WHO ARE IN AFGHANISTAN WHO ARE COMING HOME. CYNICISM IS FASHIONABLE THESE DAYS. CYNICISM DIDN'T PUT ANYBODY ON THE MOON. CYNICISM NEVER WON ANY AWARDS. IT NEVER STARTED ANY BUSINESS. IT NEVER FED A YOUNG MIND. AND NEVER BUILT A ROAD OR A BRIDGE. THE SYSTEM IS A BAD CHOICE. HOPE IS WHAT GIVES US COURAGE. HOPE IS WHAT GAVE US COURAGE TO STORM A BEACH. HOPE GIVES US WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND VOTING RIGHTS AND GAY RIGHTS AND IMMIGRATION RIGHTS. OPEN THE LEAF THERE ARE BETTER DAYS AHEAD. HOPE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD UP OUR MIDDLE CLASS AND HAD SOMETHING BETTER DOWN TO OUR KIDS. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.