WEEKLY ADDRESS: Putting the American People First
Remarks of President Barack Obama As Prepared for Delivery
Saturday, August 13, 2011 Washington, DC
On Thursday, I visited a new, high-tech factory in Michigan
where workers are helping America lead the way in a growing
clean energy industry.
They were proud of their work, and they should be. They’re
not just showing us a path out of the worst recession in
generations, they’re proving that this is still a country
where we make things; where new ideas take root and grow;
where the best universities, most creative entrepreneurs,
and most dynamic businesses in the world call home. They’re
proving that even in difficult times, there’s not a country
on Earth that wouldn’t trade places with us.
That doesn’t mean we don’t face some very tough economic
challenges. Many Americans are hurting badly right now. Many
have been unemployed for too long. Putting these men and
women back to work, and growing wages for everyone, has got
to be our top priority.
But lately, the response from Washington has been
partisanship and gridlock that’s only undermined public
confidence and hindered our efforts to grow the economy.
So while there’s nothing wrong with our country, there is
something wrong with our politics, and that’s what we’ve
got to fix. Because we know there are things Congress can
do, right now, to get more money back in your pockets, get
this economy growing faster, and get our friends and
neighbors back to work.
The payroll tax cut that put $1,000 back in the average
family’s pocket this year? Let’s extend it. Construction
workers who’ve been jobless since the housing boom went
bust? Let’s put them back to work rebuilding America. Let’
s cut red tape in the patent process so entrepreneurs can
get good ideas to market more quickly. Let’s finish trade
deals so we can sell more American-made goods around the
world. Let’s connect the hundreds of thousands of brave
Americans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan to
businesses that need their incredible skills and talents.
These are all things we can do right now. So let’s do them.
And over the coming weeks, I’ll put forward more proposals
to help our businesses hire and create jobs, and won’t stop
until every American who wants a job can find one.
But we can no longer let partisan brinksmanship get in our
way. the idea that making it through the next election is
more important than making things right. That’s what’s
holding us back. the fact that some in Congress would
rather see their opponents lose than see America win.
So you’ve got a right to be frustrated. I am. Because you
deserve better. And I don’t think it’s too much for you to
expect that the people you send to this town start
delivering.
Members of Congress are at home in their districts right
now. And if you agree with me, whether you’re a Democrat
or a Republican or not much of a fan of either, let them
know.
If you’ve had it with gridlock, and you want them to pass
stalled bills that will help our economy right now, let
them know.
If you refuse to settle for a politics where scoring points
is more important than solving problems; if you believe it’
s time to put country before party and the interests of our
children before our own, let them know.
And maybe they’ll get back to Washington ready to
compromise, ready to create jobs, ready to get our fiscal
house in order, ready to do what you sent them to do.
Yes, we’ve still got a long way to go to get to where we
need to be. We didn’t get into this mess overnight, and it
’s going to take time to get out of it. That’s a hard
truth ? but it’s no excuse for inaction. After all, America
voted for divided government, not dysfunctional government,
and we’ve got work to do. And when we come together and
find common ground, there’s no stopping this country. There
’s no stopping our people. There’s no holding us back. And
there is every reason to believe we’ll get through this
storm to a brighter day.
Thanks for listening, and have a nice weekend.