English subtitles for clip: File:2012-01-28 President Obama's Weekly Address.ogv

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The President:
On Tuesday, in my State
of the Union Address,

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I laid out a blueprint for
an economy built to last --

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an economy built on American
manufacturing, American energy,

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skills for American workers, and
a renewal of American values.

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This week, I took that
blueprint across the country,

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and what I saw was people
who work hard and believe in

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each other.

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They believe in the America
that's within our reach.

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But they're not sure that the
right thing will get done in

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Washington this year, or next
year, or the year after that.

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And frankly, when you look at
some of the things that go on in

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this town, who could blame them
for being a little cynical?

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Just two days ago, a senator
promised to obstruct every

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single American I appoint to a
judgeship or a public service

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position -- unless I fire the
consumer watchdog I put in place

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to protect the American
people from financial schemes

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or malpractice.

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For the most part, it's not
that this senator thinks these

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nominees are unqualified.

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In fact, all of the judicial
nominees being blocked have

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bipartisan support.

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And almost 90% have
unanimous support from the

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Judiciary Committee.

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Instead, one of the senator's
aides told reporters that the

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senator plans to,
and I'm quoting here,

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"delay and slow the
process in order to get the

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President's attention."

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Well, this isn't about me.

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We weren't sent here to wage
perpetual political campaigns

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against each other.

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We were sent here to
serve the American people.

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And they deserve better
than gridlock and games.

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One senator gumming up the whole
works for the entire country is

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certainly not what our
founding fathers envisioned.

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The truth is, neither
party has been blameless in

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tactics like these.

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But it's time for both
parties to put an end to them.

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I'm asking Congress, both
Democrats and Republicans,

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to stop this kind of behavior by
passing a rule that allows all

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judicial and public service
nominations a simple up-or-down

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vote within 90 days.

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We should also stem the
corrosive influence of money

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in politics.

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The House and Senate should
send me a bill that bans insider

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trading by Members of Congress,
and I will sign it immediately.

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They should limit any elected
official from owning stocks in

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industries they impact.

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And they should make sure
people who bundle campaign

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contributions for Congress can't
lobby Congress, and vice versa.

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During my Address
on Tuesday night,

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I spoke about the incredible
example set by the men and women

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of our armed forces.

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At a time when too many of our
institutions have let us down,

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they exceed all expectations.

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They're not consumed
with personal ambition.

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They don't obsess over
their differences.

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They focus on the
mission at hand.

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They work together.

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If you agree with me that
leaders in Washington should

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follow their example, then
make your voice heard.

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Tell your Member of Congress
that it's time to end the

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gridlock, and start tackling
the issues that really matter --

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an economy built on American
manufacturing, American energy,

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American skills and education,
and a return to American values.

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An economy built to last.

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Thanks.

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God bless you, and
have a great weekend.