English subtitles for clip: File:2013-03-09 President Obama's Weekly Address.ogv
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1 00:00:05,734 --> 00:00:07,032 The President: Hi, everybody. 2 00:00:07,033 --> 00:00:10,066 As I've said before, my top priority as President is making 3 00:00:10,066 --> 00:00:13,233 sure we do everything we can to reignite the true engine of 4 00:00:13,233 --> 00:00:17,734 America's economic growth -- a rising, thriving middle class. 5 00:00:17,734 --> 00:00:20,934 Yesterday, we received some welcome news on that front. 6 00:00:20,934 --> 00:00:24,633 We learned that our businesses added nearly 250,000 new 7 00:00:24,633 --> 00:00:26,300 jobs last month. 8 00:00:26,300 --> 00:00:29,867 The unemployment rate fell to 7.7% -- 9 00:00:29,867 --> 00:00:33,867 still too high, but now lower than it was when I took office. 10 00:00:33,867 --> 00:00:37,532 Our businesses have created jobs every month for three years 11 00:00:37,533 --> 00:00:42,200 straight -- nearly 6.4 million new jobs in all. 12 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,100 Our manufacturers are bringing jobs back to America. 13 00:00:45,100 --> 00:00:47,367 Our stock market has rebounded. 14 00:00:47,367 --> 00:00:51,032 New homes are being built and sold at a faster pace. 15 00:00:51,033 --> 00:00:55,433 And we need to do everything we can to keep that momentum going. 16 00:00:55,433 --> 00:00:59,066 That means asking ourselves three questions every day: 17 00:00:59,066 --> 00:01:02,166 How do we make America a magnet for new jobs? 18 00:01:02,166 --> 00:01:04,866 How do we equip more of our people with the skills those 19 00:01:04,867 --> 00:01:06,467 jobs require? 20 00:01:06,467 --> 00:01:09,500 And how do we make sure that your hard work leads to a 21 00:01:09,500 --> 00:01:10,967 decent living? 22 00:01:10,967 --> 00:01:14,567 That has to be our driving focus -- our North Star. 23 00:01:14,567 --> 00:01:16,734 And at a time when our businesses are gaining a little 24 00:01:16,734 --> 00:01:20,166 more traction, the last thing we should do is allow Washington 25 00:01:20,166 --> 00:01:22,600 politics to get in the way. 26 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,699 You deserve better than the same political gridlock and refusal 27 00:01:25,700 --> 00:01:28,900 to compromise that has too often passed for serious debate over 28 00:01:28,900 --> 00:01:30,667 the last few years. 29 00:01:30,667 --> 00:01:34,300 That's why I've been reaching out to Republicans and Democrats 30 00:01:34,300 --> 00:01:37,533 to see if we can untangle some of the gridlock. 31 00:01:37,533 --> 00:01:40,000 Earlier this week, for example, I met with some Republican 32 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,133 Senators to see if there were smarter ways to grow our economy 33 00:01:43,133 --> 00:01:46,467 and reduce our deficits than the arbitrary cuts and the so-called 34 00:01:46,467 --> 00:01:49,667 "sequester" that recently went into place. 35 00:01:49,667 --> 00:01:52,033 We had an open and honest conversation about critical 36 00:01:52,033 --> 00:01:54,767 issues like immigration reform and gun violence, 37 00:01:54,767 --> 00:01:57,333 and other areas where we can work together to move this 38 00:01:57,333 --> 00:01:58,899 country forward. 39 00:01:58,900 --> 00:02:02,033 And next week, I'll attend both the Democratic and Republican 40 00:02:02,033 --> 00:02:06,600 party meetings in the Capitol to continue those discussions. 41 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,767 The fact is, America is a nation of different beliefs and 42 00:02:09,767 --> 00:02:11,567 different points of view. 43 00:02:11,567 --> 00:02:14,066 That's part of what makes us strong, and frankly, 44 00:02:14,066 --> 00:02:17,834 makes our democratic debates sometimes messy and a lot of 45 00:02:17,834 --> 00:02:19,567 times, pretty frustrating. 46 00:02:19,567 --> 00:02:22,266 But ultimately what makes us special is when we summon the 47 00:02:22,266 --> 00:02:24,566 ability to see past those differences, 48 00:02:24,567 --> 00:02:26,834 and come together around the belief that what binds us 49 00:02:26,834 --> 00:02:29,467 together will always be more powerful than what drives 50 00:02:29,467 --> 00:02:31,033 us apart. 51 00:02:31,033 --> 00:02:34,333 As Democrats and Republicans, we may disagree on the best way to 52 00:02:34,333 --> 00:02:37,433 achieve our goals, but I'm confident we can agree on what 53 00:02:37,433 --> 00:02:39,333 those goals should be. 54 00:02:39,333 --> 00:02:41,500 A strong and vibrant middle class. 55 00:02:41,500 --> 00:02:44,934 An economy that allows businesses to grow and thrive. 56 00:02:44,934 --> 00:02:47,800 An education system that gives more Americans the skills they 57 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,333 need to compete for the jobs of the future. 58 00:02:50,333 --> 00:02:53,133 An immigration system that actually works for families 59 00:02:53,133 --> 00:02:54,567 and businesses. 60 00:02:54,567 --> 00:02:58,867 Stronger communities and safer streets for our children. 61 00:02:58,867 --> 00:03:01,667 Making progress on these issues won't be easy. 62 00:03:01,667 --> 00:03:04,767 In the months ahead, there will be more contentious debate and 63 00:03:04,767 --> 00:03:07,734 honest disagreement between principled people who want 64 00:03:07,734 --> 00:03:09,767 what's best for this country. 65 00:03:09,767 --> 00:03:12,333 But I still believe that compromise is possible. 66 00:03:12,333 --> 00:03:15,066 I still believe we can come together to do big things. 67 00:03:15,066 --> 00:03:18,500 And I know there are leaders on the other side of the aisle who 68 00:03:18,500 --> 00:03:20,100 share that belief. 69 00:03:20,100 --> 00:03:22,500 So I'll keep fighting to solve the real challenges facing 70 00:03:22,500 --> 00:03:23,734 middle-class families. 71 00:03:23,734 --> 00:03:26,467 And I'll enlist anyone who is willing to help. 72 00:03:26,467 --> 00:03:28,200 That's what this country needs now -- 73 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:30,200 and that's what you deserve. 74 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:31,200 Thanks so much.