Barack Obama
That is the nature of democracy. It is hard. It is not always inspiring.Collection: Democracy
I wanna thank the German people for the incredible partnership that our countries have been able to establish all these years.Collection: Country
It's up to [Angela Merkel] whether she wants to stand again and then ultimately, it'll be up to the German people to decide what the future holds. If I were here and I were German and I had a vote, I might support her.Collection: People
The problem is that young people are less likely to vote than older people. What results is a situation in which sometimes the elections don't fully reflect the views of the American population.Collection: Views
At a certain point you can't help but lose some feel for what's on the ground because you're not on the ground.Collection: Helping
I won Iowa not because the demographics dictated that I would win Iowa. It was because I spent 87 days going to every small town and fair and fish fry and BFW Hall, and there were some counties where I might have lost, but maybe I lost by 20 points instead of 50 points. There's some counties maybe I won, that people didn't expect, because people had a chance to see you and listen to you and get a sense of who you stood for and who you were fighting for.Collection: Fighting
You have to be involved in terms of what's happening in your local neighborhood and what issues are there.Collection: Issues
I've always wanted to come to Greece.Collection: Wanted
When you're a candidate and you say something that is inaccurate or controversial, it has less impact than it does when you're president of the United States. Everybody around the world's paying attention. Markets move. National security issues require a level of precision in order to make sure that you don't make mistakes.Collection: Mistake
This is where I think policies do need to be somewhat race-specific, is making sure that institutions are not discriminatory. So you've got something like the FHA [Federal Housing Administration], which was on its face a universal program that involved a huge mechanism for wealth accumulation and people entering into the middle class.Collection: Thinking
Reinvigorating the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, making sure that in our Department of Education, where we see evidence of black boys being suspended at substantially higher rates than white boys for the same behavior, in the absence of that kind of rigorous enforcement of the nondiscrimination principle, then the long-standing biases that I believe have weakened, but are still clearly present in our society, assert themselves in ways that usually disadvantage African Americans.Collection: Believe
This is why the anti-discrimination principle being enforced is important. Because it won't stop if some of the underlying biases aren't challenged and surfaced. And that in and of itself creates backlash and denial. This is what I mean when I say better is hard.Collection: Mean
Together, we could open up government and invite citizens in, while connecting all of America to 21st century broadband. We could use technology to help achieve universal health care, to reach for a clean energy future, and to ensure that young Americans can compete - and win - in the global economy.Collection: Winning
I'll change the posture of our federal government from being one of the most anti-science administrations in American history to one that embraces science and technology.Collection: Technology
Obama said if elected his government would "harness technology to confront the biggest challenges that America faces".Collection: Technology
Ensuring that the US continues to lead the world in science and technology will be a central priority for my administration.Collection: Technology
My staff was very excited for Brisvegas. When I arrived, they advised I needed some XXXX.Collection: Memorable
In my heart I know you didn't come here just for me, you came here because you believe in what this country can be. In the face of war, you believe there can be peace. In the face of despair, you believe there can be hope. In the face of a politics that's shut you out, that's told you to settle, that's divided us for too long, you believe we can be one people, reaching for what's possible, building that more perfect union.Collection: Country
I do think that you're starting to see young people pay attention to some longterm issues that they feel Washington has neglected.Collection: Thinking
We remember the specter of sectarian violence -- al Qaeda's attacks on mosques and pilgrims, militias that carried out campaigns of intimidation and campaigns of assassination. And in the face of ancient divisions, you stood firm to help those Iraqis who put their faith in the future.Collection: War
We remember the surge and we remember the Awakening -- when the abyss of chaos turned toward the promise of reconciliation. By battling and building block by block in Baghdad, by bringing tribes into the fold and partnering with the Iraqi army and police, you helped turn the tide toward peace.Collection: Block
And we remember the end of our combat mission and the emergence of a new dawn - the precision of our efforts against al Qaeda in Iraq, the professionalism of the training of Iraqi security forces, and the steady drawdown of our forces. In handing over responsibility to the Iraqis, you preserved the gains of the last four years and made this day possible.Collection: War
So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of you, we are ending these wars in a way that will make America stronger and the world more secure. Because of you.Collection: War
People don't expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a slight change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. They know we can do better.Collection: Life
Acts of sacrifice and decency without regard to what's in it for you create a ripple effect. Ones that lift up families and communities, that spread opportunity.Collection: Sacrifice
You're the reason why selfless soldiers won't be kicked out of the military because of who they are or who they love.Collection: Military
If you give up on the idea that your voice can make a difference, then other voices will fill the void: lobbyists and special interests; the people with the $10 million checks who are trying to buy this election and those who are making it harder for you to vote; Washington politicians who want to decide who you can marry, or control health care choices that women should make for themselves.Collection: Giving Up
Last time I checked, Congress was created to uphold the values of the Constitution, not the Bible and its biased teachings. 'All men (including women) are created equal' and are afforded unalienable rights. Way to go, Mr. President! Stand up for what you believe and for the people of this country.Collection: Country
I think it's about time! Who cares whether he is looking for votes or not! At least your country is moving forward with the times!Collection: Country
We should raise the minimum wage so that no one who works full time has to live in povertyCollection: Money
You now have the potential of 200 people deciding who ends up being elected president every single time.Collection: Money
We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last yearCollection: Money
Let me tell you another place to look for some savings. We are currently spending $10 billion a month in Iraq when they have a $79 billion surplus. It seems to me that if we're going to be strong at home as well as strong abroad, that we have to look at bringing that war to a close.Collection: Strong
We right now give $15 billion every year as subsidies to private insurers under the Medicare system. Doesn't work any better through the private insurers. They just skim off $15 billion.Collection: Money
Here's what I can tell the American people: 95 percent of you will get a tax cut. And if you make less than $250,000, less than a quarter-million dollars a year, then you will not see one dime's worth of tax increase.Collection: Money
We start this new year in the midst of an economic crisis unlike we have seen in our lifetime.Collection: New Year
Families across America are feeling the pinch as they watch debts mount, bills pile up and savings disappear.Collection: Money
It's not just enough to change the players. We've gotta change the game.Collection: Player
No one built this country on their own. This nation is great because we built it together.Collection: Country
Love and hope can conquer hate.Collection: Hate
We don't turn back. We leave no one behind. We pull each other up.Collection: Turns
When our interests and values are at stake, we have a responsibility to act.Collection: Powerful
Don't just get involved. Fight for your seat at the table. Better yet, fight for a seat at the head of the table.Collection: Inspirational
You have the ability and gifts to do whatever you want". It is your turn now to change the world. Yes we can!Collection: Yes We Can
The future is ours to win. But to get there we can't just stand still.Collection: Winning
What makes you a man is not the ability to make a child, it's the courage to raise one.Collection: Children
The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.Collection: Education
One of the best investments we can make in a child’s life is high-quality early education.Collection: Children