President Obama and family will return to the White House on the 4th to welcome 1200 military families to a special bbq, concert and viewing of the fireworks.  Jimmy Fallon will emcee the concert featuring the Foo Fighters and Michelle Branch on the South Lawn of the White House.  The concert is put on by the USO and White House Staff and family will also be in attendance.  Watch live video at whitehouse.gov/live beginning with President Obama’s opening remarks at 7pm EDT.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
July 4, 2009
 

Hello and Happy Fourth of July, everybody. This weekend is a time to get together with family and friends, kick back, and enjoy a little time off. And I hope that’s exactly what all of you do. But I also want to take a moment today to reflect on what I believe is the meaning of this distinctly American holiday.

Today, we are called to remember not only the day our country was born – we are also called to remember the indomitable spirit of the first American citizens who made that day possible.

We are called to remember how unlikely it was that our American experiment would succeed at all; that a small band of patriots would declare independence from a powerful empire; and that they would form, in the new world, what the old world had never known – a government of, by, and for the people.

That unyielding spirit is what defines us as Americans. It is what led generations of pioneers to blaze a westward trail.

It is what led my grandparents’ generation to persevere in the face of a Depression and triumph in the face of tyranny.

It is what led generations of American workers to build an industrial economy unrivalled around the world.

It is what has always led us, as a people, not to wilt or cower at a difficult moment, but to face down any trial and rise to any challenge, understanding that each of us has a hand in writing America’s destiny.

That is the spirit we are called to show once more. We are facing an array of challenges on a scale unseen in our time. We are waging two wars. We are battling a deep recession. And our economy – and our nation itself – are endangered by festering problems we have kicked down the road for far too long: spiraling health care costs; inadequate schools; and a dependence on foreign oil.

Meeting these extraordinary challenges will require an extraordinary effort on the part of every American. And that is an effort we cannot defer any longer.

Now is the time to lay a new foundation for growth and prosperity. Now is the time to revamp our education system, demand more from teachers, parents, and students alike, and build schools that prepare every child in America to outcompete any worker in the world.

Now is the time to reform an unsustainable health care system that is imposing crushing costs on families, businesses, large and small, and state and federal budgets. We need to protect what works, fix what’s broken, and bring down costs for all Americans. No more talk. No more delay. Health care reform must happen this year.

And now is the time to meet our energy challenge – one of the greatest challenges we have ever confronted as a people or as a planet. For the sake of our economy and our children, we must build on the historic bill passed by the House of Representatives, and make clean energy the profitable kind of energy so that we can end our dependence on foreign oil and reclaim America’s future.

These are some of the challenges that our generation has been called to meet. And yet, there are those who would have us try what has already failed; who would defend the status quo. They argue that our health care system is fine the way it is and that a clean energy economy can wait. They say we are trying to do too much, that we are moving too quickly, and that we all ought to just take a deep breath and scale back our goals.

These naysayers have short memories.  They forget that we, as a people, did not get here by standing pat in a time of change. We did not get here by doing what was easy. That is not how a cluster of 13 colonies became the United States of America.

We are not a people who fear the future. We are a people who make it. And on this July 4th, we need to summon that spirit once more. We need to summon the same spirit that inhabited Independence Hall two hundred and thirty-three years ago today.

That is how this generation of Americans will make its mark on history. That is how we will make the most of this extraordinary moment. And that is how we will write the next chapter in the great American story. Thank you, and Happy Fourth of July.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                              July 2, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AFTER MEETING WITH ENERGY CEOS

Rose Garden
2:37 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  I just held a meeting with the CEOs of some of the most innovative energy companies in America to talk about growth and progress of a sector that represents a big piece of America’s economic future. As our economy adapts to the challenges of a new century, new ways of producing and saving and distributing energy offer a unique opportunity to create millions of jobs for the American people.

And obviously, this is a timely discussion, on a day of sobering news.  The job figures released this morning show that we lost 467,000 jobs last month.  And while the average loss of about 400,000 jobs per month this quarter is less devastating than the 700,000 per month that we lost in the previous quarter, and while there are continuing signs that the recession is slowing, obviously this is little comfort to all those Americans who’ve lost their jobs.

We’ve taken some extraordinary measures to blunt the hard edges of the worst recession of our lifetime, and to offer assistance to those who’ve borne the brunt of this economic storm.  But as I’ve said from the moment that I walked into the door of this White House, it took years for us to get into this mess, and it will take us more than a few months to turn it around.

That’s why the discussion that we had today is so important. It’s men and women like these who will help lead us out of this recession and into a better future.  My job — and our job as a government — is to do whatever we can to unleash the great, generative powers of the American economy by encouraging their efforts.

And I’m absolutely confident that we can, at this period of difficulty, prove once again what this nation can achieve when challenged.  And I’m confident that we’re not only going to recover from this recession in the short term, but we’re going to prosper in the long term.  To do that, we have to act now to build a new foundation for lasting growth.   And energy is one of the pillars of this new foundation, essential both to our recovery and our long-term prosperity.

I’m pleased to say that we’ve achieved more in the past few months to create a new clean energy economy than we had achieved in many decades before.  The recovery plan will double our country’s supply of renewable energy, and is already creating new clean energy jobs.  Thanks to a remarkable partnership between automakers, autoworkers, environmental advocates, and states, we also set in motion a new national policy to increase gas mileage and decrease carbon pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in this country, which is going to save us 1.8 billion barrels of oil.

And last Friday, the House of Representatives passed an extraordinary piece of legislation that would make renewable energy the profitable kind of energy in America.  It will reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  It will prevent the worst consequences of climate change.  And above all, it holds the promise of millions of new jobs — jobs, by the way, that can’t be outsourced.  

The CEOs standing behind me know a lot about these kinds of companies.  These are folks whose companies are helping to lead the transformation towards a clean energy future.  Even as we face tough economic times, even as we continue to lose jobs, the CEOs here told me that they’re looking to hire new people, in some cases to double or even triple in size over the next few years.  They are making money and they are helping their customers save money on the energy front. 

So these companies are vivid examples of the kind of future we can create, but it’s now up to the Senate to continue the work that was begun in the House to forge this more prosperous future. We’re going to need to set aside the posturing and the politics  — and when we put aside the old ideological debates, then our choice is clear.  It’s a choice between slow decline and renewed prosperity.  It’s a choice between the past and the future. 

The American people I believe want us to make the right choice, and I’m confident that the Senate will.  For at every juncture in our history, we’ve chosen to seize big opportunities — rather than fear big challenges.  We’ve chosen to take responsibility.  We’ve chosen to honor the sacrifices of those who came before us — and fulfill our obligations to generations to come.  That’s what we’re going to do this time, as well.

Thank you very much, everybody.

Q    Mr. President, do you have a message for the small businesses on health and economy?

THE PRESIDENT:  The message for small businesses is many of these businesses started as small businesses and they’re now getting to be big businesses because of the extraordinary opportunities that are out there.

Another message is that they should probably contact some of these CEOs because it turns out they can save small businesses and large businesses alike up to 20 or 30 percent on their energy usage. 

And when you hear the innovation that’s taking place — everything from LED lighting that can save a huge amount on energy costs to new concrete materials that last longer and are waterproofed from the inside out, and that can mean that bridges and roads and buildings can last 20 or 30 years longer than using conventional concrete; when you look at what’s being done with solar energy right now in places like Houston and Florida; and the fact that many of these companies are exporting their goods and their services, but unfortunately, their biggest markets right now are Europe and Japan because we haven’t done enough to emphasize clean energy in our own country — that gets you excited about the future.

And one of the things that I’ve consistently talked about since I took office, and on a day where we see that our economy is still having a tough time getting moving, is we’re going to have to shoot for the future and not look backwards. 

So much of the debate around health care, so much of the debate around energy, has been based on this idea that somehow if we stand still and we don’t do anything that we’re going to be better off.  And that’s just not how this world works.  It’s certainly not how the modern economy works.  We know we’re going to have to change how we use energy. 

We know we’re going to have to change how we operate our health care systems.  We know that we’re going to have to change how we train our young people to compete in this new global economy.  And so to make the argument that somehow we should just lock in on the status quo or perpetuate the same policies that got us into this mess in the first place, and that that somehow is going to solve our problems, just doesn’t make any sense. 

And what these folks are all about is the future, and that’s what America has always been about.  We are not folks who are scared of the future or look backwards.  We always meet the challenges by moving forward.  And that’s what I think is going to happen this time, as well.

Thanks, guys.

Q    Mr. President, when are you going to get solar panels and a wind turbine at the White House, sir?

THE PRESIDENT:  I was just talking to Secretary Chu about how he is going to consult with these outstanding folks to figure out how we can improve energy efficiency here.

Q    When will that happen, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT:  I just told you — we’re moving.  Come on, guys.  (Laughter.)  I don’t have a date certain.

                             END                2:45 P.M. EDT

Forty-five years ago today, President Johnson signed into law historic legislation that moved America closer toward fulfilling the dream of our founding – a dream of opportunity, equality, and justice for all.  The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended legal discrimination, helping grant all Americans equal justice under the law – no matter what their gender or the color of their skin.

The Civil Rights Act was born during Freedom Summer 1963, but its passage was only possible because generations of Americans of all backgrounds stood up, sat down, and marched in freedom’s cause. Once it was signed into law, a renewed pledge was made to all Americans not to deny any man a seat at a lunch counter, not to deny any woman an opportunity in the workplace, and not to deny any child a chance to make the most of their God-given potential.

But while the Civil Rights Act opened doors of freedom and opportunity, we know that far too many inequities and barriers remain in the African-American community and across this country.  And we must continue to break down these barriers in our laws, our policies, and our hearts so that we can not only fulfill the full promise of the Civil Rights Act, but perfect the union that our founders created two hundred and thirty-three years ago this week.

Vice President Joe Biden has arrived in Iraq to visit U.S. troops and meet with Iraqi leaders, White House officials said.Biden is scheduled to meet with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Speaker of the Council of Representatives Ayad al-Samarrai, according to a White House news release.

The vice president will reiterate the United States’ commitment to fully implement the U.S.-Iraqi security and strategic framework agreements, and to carry out President Barack Obama’s plan to draw down U.S. forces there.

He also will discuss with Iraq’s leaders the importance of achieving the political progress that is necessary to ensure the nation’s long-term stability.

It is Biden’s second trip to Iraq in a year, and his first as vice president.

The President traveled to Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale VA today to give voice to Americans and their concerns about health care costs and delivery in this country.  He was joined by Mark Warner, and Tim Kaine who gave his impressions of the meeting here.  He encouraged everyone to read the stories of their fellow Americans and join the fight to make sure comprehensive health care reform is passed this year.

The President echoed many of the points he had made in previous health care speeches and town halls, including his reasons for opposing single payer among other issues.   The story of a cancer patient who couldn’t get care touched the President’s heart as he called her over for a hug, and called her “Exhibit A” in this fight.

“Every nation on Earth that is as wealthy as ours is able to do that.  And they don’t do it perfectly — that’s why I say we’ve got to find a uniquely American solution — but don’t tell me that we can’t get this done.  And for those who say, well, you know what, this is something that is very complicated so we shouldn’t rush into it — that’s what happens in Congress all the time.  They have hearings, they write white papers, and then suddenly the lobbyists and the special interests start going at it, and the next thing you know, another 10 years has gone by and we still haven’t done anything.”

Read The Full Text Transcript of the Health Care Townhall

As the economy continues to creep along, the effect the slowdown is having on states and local communities has been devastating.  Every day there are stories of families needing shelter, food banks asking for donations of any kind, local schools and libraries closing programs and reducing staff.  Some cities even cancelled their fireworks.  And of course it’s the children who will suffer most, in the short term from hunger and displacement, but also in the long term from the accumulative trauma that deprivation has on a person’s ability to persevere through difficult challenges.  That’s why the Community Solutions Agenda President Obama announced today is so important and so much more than just fulfilling a campaign promise.  The President has pointed to programs like the Harlem Children’s Zone since at least 2007, as an example of the transformation that can take place through grassroots organizations.  “It’s time to change the odds for neighborhoods all across America. And that’s why when I’m President, the first part of my plan to combat urban poverty will be to replicate the Harlem Children’s Zone in twenty cities across the country.”  The Harlem Children’s Zone isn’t going to combat poverty all by itself, but that program along with other successful grassroots programs, can provide a “bottom up” solution that will appeal to the local population its meant to address. 

Remarks Full Text

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Well, it is wonderful to see all these do-gooders in one room.  (Laughter.)  And it is always a dangerous thing trying to follow Geoffrey Canada.  (Laughter.)  But I thank you all for being here.

Before we begin the subject of today’s gathering, I want to say a few words about an important milestone that we’ve reached in Iraq.  Today, American troops have transferred control of all Iraqi cities and towns to Iraq’s government and security forces.  (Applause.)  This transition was agreed to last year as part of our Status of Forces Agreement with the sovereign Iraqi government.  It’s a part of our strategy to responsibly end the war by removing all American combat brigades from Iraq by next September, and all of our troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.

So the Iraqi people are rightly treating this day as a cause for celebration.  This is an important step forward, as a sovereign and united Iraq continues to take control of its own destiny.  And with this progress comes responsibility.  Iraq’s future is in the hands of its own people.  And Iraq’s leaders must now make some hard choices necessary to resolve key political questions, to advance opportunity, and to provide security for their towns and their cities.  In this effort, America will be a strong partner to the Iraqi people on behalf of their security and prosperity.

Make no mistake:  There will be difficult days ahead.  We know that the violence in Iraq will continue — we see that already in the senseless bombing in Kirkuk earlier today.  And there are those who will test Iraq’s security forces, and the resolve of the Iraqi people, through more sectarian bombings and the murder of innocent civilians.  But I’m confident that those forces will fail.  The future belongs to those who build, not those who destroy.  And today’s transition is further proof that those who have tried to pull Iraq into the abyss of disunion and civil war are on the wrong side of history.

Finally, the very fact that Iraqis are celebrating this day is a testament to the courage, the capability, and commitment of every single American who has served in Iraq.  (Applause.)  That’s worth applause.  Through tour after tour of duty, our troops have overcome every obstacle to extend this precious opportunity to the Iraqi people.  These women and men are not always in the headlines, but they’re in our hearts and prayers, and we will forever honor their selfless service and sacrifice, as well as the service and sacrifice of their families.  There is more work to be done, but we’ve made important progress in supporting a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq.  And everyone who has served there, both in uniform as well as our civilians, deserves our thanks.

Now, it’s fitting that we’re here today to talk about what each of us can do to lift up this nation, because our troops’ sacrifice challenges all of us to do what we can do to be better citizens.  That’s what the people that you’ve heard from already are doing every single day.

So I want to start off thanking Geoffrey Canada, Robert Chambers, Pat Christen — who’s here with one of Hope Lab’s student testers, Richard Ross — Richard, wave to everybody — (laughter) — for speaking with us about the extraordinary work their organizations are doing in their communities.  And I want to thank Richard and Vanessa Nunez for sharing their stories with us today.  Thank you very much.  You both clearly have very bright futures ahead of you.

I want to acknowledge our outstanding Education Secretary, Arne Duncan.  He’s worth giving a round of applause.  (Applause.) As well as, if I’m not mistaken, Congressman Jim Moran is here.  There he is, right here in the front, with his daughter, Dorothy. (Applause.)  I want to thank Steve Goldsmith for moderating.  We were discussing the fact that at Harvard — Vanessa, you were there — how long ago was that?  Fifteen years ago?  We were together on a conference talking about this very issue.  And so it’s nice to see Steve, one of the outstanding mayors at the time, and now continuing to do great work helping people to think about how we can all fulfill our civic responsibilities more effectively.  So thank you very much.

I also want to thank Dave Cieslewicz — I want to make sure I say that properly — of Madison, Wisconsin, and Mayor Sara Presler of Flagstaff, Arizona, for their commitment as well.  Please give them a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

And finally, I want to thank all of you here today for everything you’re doing to find new solutions to some of our oldest, toughest problems.  I know what you do is not easy.  I know that for many of you, the hours are long, the pay could be better — let’s face it.  But I also know the difference that each of you make.  I know the lives that you change every single day.  You teach us that there’s no such thing as a lost cause if you’re willing to be creative, and challenge the conventional wisdom, and take some risks — if you’re willing to try, and fail, and then try again until you find something that works.  And today, I want to recognize that pioneering spirit and thank you all for the contributions that you’re making to our communities.

What you all do is important in any year.  But at this particular moment, when we’re facing challenges unlike any we’ve seen in our lifetime, it’s absolutely critical, because while we’re working hard to rebuild our economy and help people who are struggling, let’s face it, there’s only so much that Washington can do.  Government can’t do everything and be everywhere — nor should it be.

For example, government can help rebuild schools — and Arne Duncan is working as hard as anybody — but we need new ways to teach our children and train our teachers and get parents more involved in their children’s education.  Government can reform our health care system, but we need innovative approaches to help people manage their illnesses and lead healthier lives.  Government can invest in clean energy, but we need new initiatives to get people to train for green jobs and make their homes and offices more energy-efficient.

So if anyone out there is waiting for government to solve all their problems, they’re going to be disappointed.  Because ultimately, the best solutions don’t come from the top-down, not from Washington; they come from the bottom-up in each and everyone one of our communities.

As some of you know, I first saw this years ago when I worked as a community organizer in Chicago — neighborhoods devastated by steel plant closings.  And I spent hours going door to door, meeting with anyone who would talk to me, asking people about their struggles and what an organization could do to help.

And it was slow, laborious going.  We had plenty of setbacks and failed more often than we succeeded.  But we listened to the people in the community and we learned from them and got them engaged and got them involved.  And slowly, block by block, we began to turn those neighborhoods around, fighting for job training and better housing and more opportunity for young people.

The lesson I learned then still holds true today:  that folks who are struggling don’t simply need more government bureaucracy; that top-down, one-size-fits-all program usually doesn’t end up fitting anybody.  People don’t need somebody out in Washington to tell them how to solve their problems, especially when the best solutions are often right there in their own neighborhoods, just waiting to be discovered.

So right now, in communities across America, people are hard at work developing and running programs that could be the next Harlem Children’s Zone or the next Genesys Works or the next Hope Lab, and idealistic young people like Wendy Kopp who refused to listen to the skeptics years ago and pushed ahead to bring her vision for Teach for America to life.

We’ve got young-at-heart people like Robert Chambers, who finish out careers in business or health care or education, and instead of transitioning into retirement, they’re just too busy, they’re too restless, so they come back for an encore, plowing a lifetime of experience into helping people in need.  We’ve got people from all backgrounds, all walks of life succeeding where others have failed; getting real, measurable results; changing the way we think about some of our toughest problems.

The bottom line is clear:  Solutions to America’s challenges are being developed every day at the grass roots — and government shouldn’t be supplanting those efforts, it should be supporting those efforts.  Instead of wasting taxpayer money on programs that are obsolete or ineffective, government should be seeking out creative, results-oriented programs like the ones here today and helping them replicate their efforts across America.

So if the Harlem Children’s Zone can turn around neighborhoods in New York, then why not Detroit, or San Antonio, or Los Angeles or Indianapolis?  If Bonnie Clac can help working people purchase cars and manage their finances in New Hampshire, then they can probably do it in Vermont or all across New England, or all across America.

Now it’s not going to be easy to scale up some of these great ideas.  If it was easy, you would have already done it and you wouldn’t be here today — except maybe to just check out the White House.  (Laughter.)  It’s hard.  But it’s also critical.  And it’s absolutely possible if we’re willing to work together to give organizations like these the resources they need to reach their fullest potential and have their fullest impact, and if we’re able to ensure that best practices are shared all across the country, that we’ve set up a strong network of ideas.  And that’s precisely the idea behind the $50 million innovation fund included in the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act — an initiative designed to assist community solutions like these that we’re asking Congress to fund this year.

We’re going to use this fund to find the most promising non-profits in America.  We’ll examine their data and rigorously evaluate their outcomes.  We’ll invest in those with the best results that are most likely to provide a good return on our taxpayer dollars.  And we’ll require that they get matching investments from the private sector — from businesses and foundations and philanthropists — to make those taxpayer dollars go even further.

And today, I’m announcing that I’ll be asking Melody Barnes, who is our director of the Domestic Policy Council, and our innovation team to lead this process, traveling across the country to discover and evaluate the very best programs in our communities.

And we won’t just be looking at the usual suspects in the usual places.  We won’t just be seeking the programs that everybody already knows about, but we also want to find those hidden gems that haven’t yet gotten the attention they deserve.  And we’ll be looking in all sorts of communities — rural, urban, and suburban — in every region of this country, because we know that great ideas and outstanding programs are everywhere — and it’s up to us to find them.

We’re going to take this new approach, this new way of doing business, government-wide.  So we’ve already set up a What Works Fund at the Department of Education — $650 million in the Recovery Act that we’ll be investing in the most successful, highest-impact initiatives in our school districts and communities.  It’s not just going to be the usual formulas here.  From pioneering teacher training programs and efforts to bring new technologies into our schools, to early learning programs and programs to help at-risk kids — these are the kinds of initiatives that Arne and his staff at the department are looking to support.

At the Department of Health and Human Services, we’re working on a new home-visiting initiative connecting nurses and other trained professionals with at-risk families to ensure that children get a healthy, safe, and smart start to life.  We’ll be seeking out the very best programs to achieve those goals — ones with the strongest record of success — and we’ll test promising approaches to see what works and what doesn’t.

So all of this represents a new kind of partnership between government and the non-profit sector.  But I can tell you right now, that partnership isn’t complete, and it won’t be successful, without help from the private sector.  And that’s why I’m glad that there are some deep pockets in the audience here — foundations, corporations, and individuals.  You need to be part of this effort, as well.  And that’s my challenge to the private sector today.

Our non-profits can provide the solutions.  Our government can rigorously evaluate these solutions and invest limited taxpayer dollars in ones that work.  But we need those of you from the private sector to step up, as well.  We need you to provide that critical seed capital to launch these ideas.  We need you to provide those matching funds to help them grow.  And we need you to serve as a partner, providing strategic advice and other resources to help them succeed.

If we work together — if we all go all-in here — think about the difference we can make.  Think about the impact we could have with just the organizations represented in this room.

We’ve got Jim McCorkell here from Admission Possible, a group that helps promising young people from low-income families attend college.  Ninety-nine percent of the Admission Possible class of 2008 got into college — 99 percent.  (Applause.)  Where’s Jim?  Where’s Jim?  There he is back there.  The vast majority stay in college and earn their degrees.  Admission Possible operates in just two states now.  So imagine if it was 10, or 20, or 50.

We’ve got Alfa Demmellash here from Rising Tide Capital.  Where is Alfa?  Right over there.  Did I pronounce your name right?  Good.  When your name is Barack Obama, you’re sensitive to these things.  (Laughter.)  So Alfa is with Rising Tide Capital, an organization that helps struggling mom-and-pop entrepreneurs get loans, run their businesses and improve their profit margins.  Seventy percent of their clients are single moms.  All of them rely on their businesses to support their families.  So far Rising Tide has helped 250 business owners in the state of New Jersey.  So imagine if they could help 500 or 1,000 or more all across America.

If we empower organizations like these, think about the number of young people like Vanessa and Richard whose lives we can change; the number of families whose livelihoods we can boost; the number of struggling communities we can bring back to life.

In the end, that’s what this effort is about.  It’s not about the old partisan lines in the sand.  We know there’s nothing Democratic or Republican about just doing what works.  So we want to cast aside worn ideological debates and focus on what really helps people in their daily lives.  That’s what each and every one of you are doing all across America.  For that, I honor you, I thank you, and I look forward to working with you in the days and months and years ahead to address the urgent challenges of our time.

Thank you very much, everybody.  Good luck.  (Applause.)

Nancy Ann DeParle, Director of White House Health Care Reform, answered questions today in advance of President Obama’s online townhall tomorrow.   The President will interact with users of Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and other social networks.

Reforming Health Care: Nancy-Ann DeParle Takes Your Questions from White House on Vimeo.

White House Blog Post on the anniversary of Stonewall, from Brian Bond, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement

Remarks by THE PRESIDENT: 

Hello, everybody.  Hello, hello, hello.  (Applause.)  Hey!  Good to see you.  (Applause.)  I’m waiting for FLOTUS here.  FLOTUS always politics more than POTUS.

     MRS. OBAMA:  No, you move too slow.  (Laughter.)

     THE PRESIDENT:  It is great to see everybody here today and they’re just — I’ve got a lot of friends in the room, but there are some people I want to especially acknowledge.  First of all, somebody who helped ensure that we are in the White House, Steve Hildebrand.  Please give Steve a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  Where’s Steve?  He’s around here somewhere.  (Applause.)

     The new chair of the Export-Import Bank, Fred Hochberg.  (Applause.)  Where’s Fred?  There’s Fred.  Good to see you, Fred.  Our Director of the Institute of Education Sciences at DOE, John Easton.  Where’s John?  (Applause.)  A couple of special friends — Bishop Gene Robinson.  Where’s Gene?  (Applause.)  Hey, Gene.  Ambassador Michael Guest is here.  (Applause.)  Ambassador Jim Hormel is here.  (Applause.)  Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown is here.  (Applause.) 

     All of you are here.  (Laughter and applause.)  Welcome to your White House.  (Applause.)  So –

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)  (Laughter.)

     THE PRESIDENT:  Somebody asked from the Lincoln Bedroom here.  (Laughter.)  You knew I was from Chicago too.  (Laughter.) 

It’s good to see so many friends and familiar faces, and I deeply appreciate the support I’ve received from so many of you.  Michelle appreciates it and I want you to know that you have our support, as well.  (Applause.)  And you have my thanks for the work you do every day in pursuit of equality on behalf of the millions of people in this country who work hard and care about their communities — and who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.  (Applause.)

     Now this struggle, I don’t need to tell you, is incredibly difficult, although I think it’s important to consider the extraordinary progress that we have made.  There are unjust laws to overturn and unfair practices to stop.  And though we’ve made progress, there are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors or even family members and loved ones, who still hold fast to worn arguments and old attitudes; who fail to see your families like their families; and who would deny you the rights that most Americans take for granted.  And I know this is painful and I know it can be heartbreaking.

     And yet all of you continue, leading by the force of the arguments you make but also by the power of the example that you set in your own lives — as parents and friends, as PTA members and leaders in the community.  And that’s important, and I’m glad that so many LGBT families could join us today.  (Applause.)  For we know that progress depends not only on changing laws but also changing hearts.  And that real, transformative change never begins in Washington.

     (Cell phone “quacks.”)

     Whose duck is back there?  (Laughter.)

     MRS. OBAMA:  It’s a duck.

     THE PRESIDENT:  There’s a duck quacking in there somewhere.  (Laughter.)  Where do you guys get these ring tones, by the way?  (Laughter.)  I’m just curious.  (Laughter.)

     Indeed, that’s the story of the movement for fairness and equality — not just for those who are gay, but for all those in our history who’ve been denied the rights and responsibilities of citizenship; who’ve been told that the full blessings and opportunities of this country were closed to them.  It’s the story of progress sought by those who started off with little influence or power; by men and women who brought about change through quiet, personal acts of compassion and courage and sometimes defiance wherever and whenever they could. 

     That’s the story of a civil rights pioneer who’s here today, Frank Kameny, who was fired — (applause.)  Frank was fired from his job as an astronomer for the federal government simply because he was gay.  And in 1965, he led a protest outside the White House, which was at the time both an act of conscience but also an act of extraordinary courage.  And so we are proud of you, Frank, and we are grateful to you for your leadership.  (Applause.)

     It’s the story of the Stonewall protests, which took place 40 years ago this week, when a group of citizens — with few options, and fewer supporters — decided they’d had enough and refused to accept a policy of wanton discrimination.  And two men who were at those protests are here today.  Imagine the journey that they’ve travelled.

     It’s the story of an epidemic that decimated a community — and the gay men and women who came to support one another and save one another; and who continue to fight this scourge; and who demonstrated before the world that different kinds of families can show the same compassion and support in a time of need — that we all share the capacity to love.

     So this story, this struggle, continues today — for even as we face extraordinary challenges as a nation, we cannot — and will not — put aside issues of basic equality.  (Applause.)  We seek an America in which no one feels the pain of discrimination based on who you are or who you love. 

     And I know that many in this room don’t believe that progress has come fast enough, and I understand that.  It’s not for me to tell you to be patient, any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half century ago. 

     But I say this:  We have made progress and we will make more.  And I want you to know that I expect and hope to be judged not by words, not by promises I’ve made, but by the promises that my administration keeps.  And by the time you receive — (applause.)  We’ve been in office six months now.  I suspect that by the time this administration is over, I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration.  (Applause.)   

     Now, while there is much more work to do, we can point to important changes we’ve already put in place since coming into office.  I’ve signed a memorandum requiring all agencies to extend as many federal benefits as possible to LGBT families as current law allows.  And these are benefits that will make a real difference for federal employees and Foreign Service Officers, who are so often treated as if their families don’t exist.  And I’d like to note that one of the key voices in helping us develop this policy is John Berry, our director of the Office of Personnel Management, who is here today.  And I want to thank John Berry.  (Applause.)

     I’ve called on Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act to help end discrimination — (applause) — to help end discrimination against same-sex couples in this country.  Now, I want to add we have a duty to uphold existing law, but I believe we must do so in a way that does not exacerbate old divides.  And fulfilling this duty in upholding the law in no way lessens my commitment to reversing this law.  I’ve made that clear.

     I’m also urging Congress to pass the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, which will guarantee the full range of benefits, including health care, to LGBT couples and their children.  (Applause.)  My administration is also working hard to pass an employee non-discrimination bill and hate crimes bill, and we’re making progress on both fronts.  (Applause.)  Judy and Dennis Shepard, as well as their son Logan, are here today.  I met with Judy in the Oval Office in May — (applause) — and I assured her and I assured all of you that we are going to pass an inclusive hate crimes bill into law, a bill named for their son Matthew.  (Applause.) 

     In addition, my administration is committed to rescinding the discriminatory ban on entry to the United States based on HIV status.  (Applause.)  The Office of Management and Budget just concluded a review of a proposal to repeal this entry ban, which is a first and very big step towards ending this policy.  And we all know that HIV/AIDS continues to be a public health threat in many communities, including right here in the District of Columbia.  And that’s why this past Saturday, on National HIV Testing Day, I was proud once again to encourage all Americans to know their status and get tested the way Michelle and I know our status and got tested.  (Applause.)

And finally, I want to say a word about “don’t ask, don’t tell.”  As I said before — I’ll say it again — I believe “don’t ask, don’t tell” doesn’t contribute to our national security.  (Applause.)  In fact, I believe preventing patriotic Americans from serving their country weakens our national security.  (Applause.) 

     Now, my administration is already working with the Pentagon and members of the House and the Senate on how we’ll go about ending this policy, which will require an act of Congress.

     Someday, I’m confident, we’ll look back at this transition and ask why it generated such angst, but as Commander-in-Chief, in a time of war, I do have a responsibility to see that this change is administered in a practical way and a way that takes over the long term.  That’s why I’ve asked the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop a plan for how to thoroughly implement a repeal.

     I know that every day that passes without a resolution is a deep disappointment to those men and women who continue to be discharged under this policy — patriots who often possess critical language skills and years of training and who’ve served this country well.  But what I hope is that these cases underscore the urgency of reversing this policy not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it is essential for our national security.

     Now, even as we take these steps, we must recognize that real progress depends not only on the laws we change but, as I said before, on the hearts we open.  For if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll acknowledge that there are good and decent people in this country who don’t yet fully embrace their gay brothers and sisters — not yet. 

     That’s why I’ve spoken about these issues not just in front of you, but in front of unlikely audiences — in front of African American church members, in front of other audiences that have traditionally resisted these changes.  And that’s what I’ll continue to do so.  That’s how we’ll shift attitudes.  That’s how we’ll honor the legacy of leaders like Frank and many others who have refused to accept anything less than full and equal citizenship.

     Now, 40 years ago, in the heart of New York City at a place called the Stonewall Inn, a group of citizens, including a few who are here today, as I said, defied an unjust policy and awakened a nascent movement.

     It was the middle of the night.  The police stormed the bar, which was known for being one of the few spots where it was safe to be gay in New York.  Now, raids like this were entirely ordinary.  Because it was considered obscene and illegal to be gay, no establishments for gays and lesbians could get licenses to operate.  The nature of these businesses, combined with the vulnerability of the gay community itself, meant places like Stonewall, and the patrons inside, were often the victims of corruption and blackmail.

     Now, ordinarily, the raid would come and the customers would disperse.  But on this night, something was different.  There are many accounts of what happened, and much has been lost to history, but what we do know is this:  People didn’t leave.  They stood their ground.  And over the course of several nights they declared that they had seen enough injustice in their time.  This was an outpouring against not just what they experienced that night, but what they had experienced their whole lives.  And as with so many movements, it was also something more:  It was at this defining moment that these folks who had been marginalized rose up to challenge not just how the world saw them, but also how they saw themselves.

     As we’ve seen so many times in history, once that spirit takes hold there is little that can stand in its way.  (Applause.)  And the riots at Stonewall gave way to protests, and protests gave way to a movement, and the movement gave way to a transformation that continues to this day.  It continues when a partner fights for her right to sit at the hospital bedside of a woman she loves.  It continues when a teenager is called a name for being different and says, “So what if I am?”  It continues in your work and in your activism, in your fight to freely live your lives to the fullest.

In one year after the protests, a few hundred gays and lesbians and their supporters gathered at the Stonewall Inn to lead a historic march for equality.  But when they reached Central Park, the few hundred that began the march had swelled to 5,000.  Something had changed, and it would never change back.

     The truth is when these folks protested at Stonewall 40 years ago no one could have imagined that you — or, for that matter, I — (laughter) — would be standing here today.  (Applause.)  So we are all witnesses to monumental changes in this country.  That should give us hope, but we cannot rest.  We must continue to do our part to make progress — step by step, law by law, mind by changing mind.  And I want you to know that in this task I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a President who fights with you and for you.

     Thanks very much, everybody.  God bless you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  It’s a little stuffed in here.  We’re going to open — we opened up that door.  We’re going to walk this way, and then we’re going to come around and we’ll see some of you over there, all right?  (Laughter.)  But out there.  (Laughter.) 

But thank you very much, all, for being here.  Enjoy the White House.  Thank you.

Abraham Verghese attended President Obama’s recent health care town hall at the White House and shared his thoughts on The Atlantic blog.  He is known for several non-fiction books, including My Own Country, which was based on his experiences as a physician treating persons with HIV in Johnson City, Tennessee.  Dr. Verghese came to Johnson City from India in 1979 as part of a foreign medical graduate program and completed his residency there.  He returned from Boston in 1985 and was surprised to find the signs of the AIDS epidemic which had previously been considered an urban disease.  After several award winning books, his focus turned to medical humanities and the importance of bedside medicine.  He is currently a tenured professor at Stanford.

The doctor has written a series of articles on health reform and has some of the most clear-eyed analysis of how we got here and where we need to go.  He has no sacred cows, including President Obama, of whom he admits he is “an admirer”.  An article for the Wall St Journal hits directly at the AMA and their history of sabotaging public health care, going back at least as far as President Truman in 1949.  According to Dr. Verghese, the AMA used the famous painting, “The Doctor” on thousands of posters with the caption “Keep Politics Out of this Picture.”  Sound familiar?

He goes on to dissect the claim that prevention will reduce costs, and rather says that the cost of services must be reduced, period.  “The bottom line is that our health care is costly because it is costly, not because we deliver more care, better care or special care. Alas, a solution that does not address the cost of care, and negotiate new prices for the services offered will not work; a solution that does not put caps on spending and that instead projects cost-savings here and there also won’t cut it. Leaders have to make tough and unpopular decisions, and if he is to be the first President to successfully accomplish reform there does not seem to be much choice: cut costs.”

It is easy to see why he was invited to participate in the recent town hall and encouraing to hear his high opinion of the President on this most important issue.

“It was my first look at the President at close quarters. I came away with the impression that the President was possibly the most knowledgeable person in the room when it came to the current health care crisis. That’s no small thing given the people who were there.”

“The obstacles in the President’s way are considerable:  1) people and businesses who are profiting hugely from the status quo;  2) a  general fear of government interference;  3) fear in Congress about the amount of money to be spent on health care reform and finally, 4) the fact that legislators who have to make change happen often serve the interests of the people who gave them the most campaign money–pharma, insurers, organized medicine. These contributions are what taint our political process–call it  first world corruption.”

His full remarks can be found at The Atlantic.