President Obama delivers remarks at Associated Press luncheon in Washington, D.C.
April 3, 2012
Speaking to the American Society of Newspaper Editors, President Obama slammed the Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) budget and the proposed tax breaks for America's wealthiest citizens.
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OBAMA: Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Please have a seat.
Good afternoon, and thank you to Dean Singleton and the Board of the Associated Press for inviting me here today. It’s a pleasure to speak to all of you and to have a microphone I can see.
(LAUGHTER)
Feel free to transmit any of this to Vladimir if you see him. Clearly, we’re in the beginning months of another long lively election year. There will be gaffes and minor controversies. There will be hot mics and Etch-a-Sketch moments.
You will cover every word that we say, and we will complain vociferously about the unflattering words that you write unless of course you’re writing about the other guy in which case, good job.
But there are also big fundamental issues at stake right now, issues that deserve serious debate among every candidate, and serious coverage among every reporter. Whoever he may be, the next president will inherit an economy that is recovering, but not yet recovered from the worst economic calamity since the Great Depression.
Too many Americans will still be looking for a job that pays enough to cover their bills or their mortgage. Too many citizens will still lack the sort of financial security that started slipping away years before this recession hit.
A debt that has grown over the last decade, primarily as a result of two wars, two massive tax cuts and unprecedented financial crisis, will have to be paid down. And in the face of all these challenges, we’re going to have to answer a central question as a nation.
What, if anything, can we do to restore a sense of security for people who are willing to work hard and act responsibly in this country? Can we succeed as a country where a shrinking number of people do exceedingly well while a growing number struggle to get by or are we better off when everyone gets a fair shot?
And everyone does their fair share. And everyone plays by the same rules. This is not just another run of the mill political debate. I’ve said it’s the defining issue of our time and I believe it. That’s why I ran in 2008. It’s what my presidency has been about. It’s why I’m running again.
I believe this is a make or break moment for the middle class and I can’t remember a time when the choice between competing visions of our future has been so unambiguously clear. Keep in mind, I have never been somebody who believes that government can or should try to solve every problem.
Some of you know my first job in Chicago was working with a group of Catholic churches that often did more good for the people in their communities than any government program could. In those same communities I saw that no education policy, however well crafted, can take the place of a parent’s love and attention. As president, I have eliminated dozens of programs that weren’t working and announced over 500 regulatory reforms that will save businesses and taxpayers billions. And put annual domestic spending on a path to become the smallest share of the economy since Dwight Eisenhower held this office. Since before I was born. I know that the true engine of job creation in this country is the private sector not Washington, which is why I’ve cut taxes for small business owners 17 times over the last three years.
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