Push for change where its needed. He spoke at the Mccormick Place in chicago. This is an hour. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the 44th president of the United States, barack obama. [cheers] president obama hello, chicago ts good to be home. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Its good to be home. Thank you. Thank you. [cheers] president obama you can tell you can tell that i you, you you can tell that im a lame duck because nobodys following instructions. Everybody have a seat. Fellow americans michelle and i have been so touched by all the well wishes that weve received over the past few weeks, but tonight, tonight its my urn to say thanks. Whether we have seen eye to eye or rarely agreed at all, my conversations with you, the american people, in living rooms and in schools, at farms, on factory floors, at diners and on distant military outposts, those conversations are what have kept me honest and kept me inspired. And kept me going. And every day i have learned from you. You made me a better president and you made me a better man. I first came to chicago when i was in my early 20s and i was still trying to figure out who i was, still searching for a purpose in my life, and it was a neighborhood not far from here where i began working with Church Groups in the shadows of closed steel mills. It was on these streets write witnessed the power of faith and the quiet dignity of working people in the face of struggle and loss. [chanting] president obama i cant do hat. This is where i learned that change only happens when ordinary people get involved and they get engaged and they come together to demand it. After eight years as your president , i still believe that. And its not just my belief. Its the beating heart of our american idea. Our bold experiment in selfgovernment. Its the conviction that we e all created equal, endowed by our creator with certain unailable rights. Among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Its the insistence that these rights, while selfevident, have never been selfexecuting. That we, the people, through the instrument of our democracy, can form a more perfect union. What a radical idea. The great gift that our founders gave to us. The freedom to chase our individual dreams through our sweat and toil and magination and the imperative to strive together as well to achieve a common good, a greater good. For 240 years, our nations call to citizenship has given work and purpose to each new generation. Its what led patriots to choose republic over turn eye. Tyranny. Pioneers to break west. Slaves to make that makeshift railroad to freedom. What caused refugees to cross oceans and the rio grande, what pushed women to reach for the battle. What pushed workers too. Its why g. I. s gave their lives at omaha beach and iwo jima, iraq and afghanistan. And why men and women from selma to stonewall were prepare told give theirs as ell. [applause] mean h thats what we when we say america is exceptional. Now not that our nation has been flawless from the start but that we have shown the the i to change and make life better for those who follow. Yes, our progress has been uneven. The work of democracy has always been hard. Its always been contentious. Sometimes its been moody. For every two steps forward, it often feels we take one step back. But the long sweep of america has been defined by forward motion, a constant widing of our foungeed creed to embrace all and not just some. [applause] if i had told you eight years ago that america would reverse the great recession, reboot our Auto Industry and unleash the longest stretch of job creation in our history [applause] if i had told you that we would open up a new chapter with the cuban people, shut down Irans NuclearWeapons Program without firing a shot, take out the mastermind of 9 11 if i had told you that we would win Marriage Equality and rights for another 20 million of our citizens [applause] if i had told yall, that you might have said our sights were set a little too high. Ut thats what we did. Thats what you did. You were the change. You answered peoples hopes and because of you, by almost every measure, america is a better, stronger place than it was when we started. [applause] in 10 days, the world will witness a hallmark of our democracy. No, no, no. The peaceful transfer of power from one freely elected president to the next. [applause] i committed to president elect trump that my administration would ensure the smoothest possible transition, just as president bush did for me. [applause] because its up to all of us to make sure our government can help us meet the many challenges we still face. We have what we need to do so. We have everything we need to meet those challenges. Ter all, we remain the wealthiest, most powerful and most respected nation on earth. Ourout, our youth, our drive, our diversity and openness, our boundless capacity for risk and reinvention means that the future should be ours. But that potential will only be realized if our democracy works. Only if our politics better reflects the decency of our people. [applause] only if all of us, regardless of Party Affiliation or particular interests, help restore the sense of common purpose that we so badly need right now. And thats what i want to focus on tonight, the state of our democracy. Understand democracy does not require uniformity. Our founders argued. Their quarreled. Eventually they compromised. They expected us to do the same. But they knew that democracy does require a basic sense of solidarity. The idea that for all our outward differences were all in this together, that we rise or fall as one. [applause] there have been moments throughout our history that threatened that solidarity. And the beginning of this century has been one of those times. A shrinking world, growing inequality, demographic change and specter of terrorism. These forces havent just challenged our security and prosperity but are testing our democracy as well and how we meet these challenges to our democracy will term the determine our ability to educate our kids and create good jobs and protect our homeland. In other words, it will etermine our future. To begin with our democracy wont work without a sense that everyone has economic opportunities, and the good news is that today the economy is growing again, wages, incomes, home values and retirement counts are all rising again. Poverty is falling again. [applause] the wealthy are paying a fairer share of taxes, even as the stock market shatters records. The Unemployment Rate is near a 10year low. The uninsured rate has never, ever been lower. [applause] Health Care Costs are rising at the slowest rate in 50 years. And ive said and i mean it, if anyone can put together a plan that is demonstrably better than the improvements weve made to our health care sming that covers as many people at less cost, i will publicly support it. [applause] because, that after all, is hy we serve. Not to score points or take credit but to make peoples lives better. But for all the Real Progress that weve made, we know its not enough. Our economy doesnt work as well or grow as fast when a few prosper at the expense of a growing middle class nd for folks to want to get into the middle class. But stark inequality is also corrosive to our dema democratic idea. While the top 1 as amassed are bigger share of wealth and income, too many of our family, in inner cities and in Rural Counties have been left behind. The laidoff factory worker. The waitress or Health Care Worker who is barely getting by and struggling to pay the bills. Convinced that the game is nixed against them, that the government only serves the pourl. Thats a recipe for more cynicism and polarization in our policies. There are no quick fixes to this longterm trend. I agree, our trade should be fair and not just free, but the next wave of economic dislocations wont come from overseaings but the relentless pace of automation which makes a lot of good, middle class jobs obsolete. Were going to have to forge a new social contract to guarantee all our kids the education they need. To give workers the power to unionize for better wages, to update the social safety net to reflect the way we live now and make more reforms to the tax code so corporations and individuals who reap the most from this new economy dont avoid their obligations to the country thats made their very success possible. [applause] we can argue about how to best achieve these goals. But we cant be complaint about the goals themselves. Complacent about the goals themselves. For if we dont create opportunity for all people, then this division that has stalled our progress will only sharpen in years to come. Theres a second threat to our democracy and this one is as old as our nation itself. After my election, there was talk of a postracial america. And such a vision, however well intended was never realistic. Race remains a potent and often 2005 force in our society. Now, ive lived long enough to know that Race Relations are better than they were 10 or 20 or 30 years ago no matter what some folks say. You can see it not just in statistics. You see it in the attitudes of Young Americans across the political spectrum. But were not where we need to be. And all of us have more work to do. If every economic issue is framed as a struggle between a hardworkinging white middle class and an undeserving minority then workers of all shades are going to be left fighting for scraps while the wealthy withdraw further into their private enclaves. [applause] if were unwilling to invest in the children of immigrants just because they dont look like us, we will diminish the prospects of our own children because those brown kids will represent a larger and larger share of americas work force. [applause] and we have shown that our economy doesnt have to be a zero sum game. Last year incomes rose for all races. All age groups. For men and for women. So if were going to be serious about race going forward, we need to uphold laws against discrimination in hiring and in housing and in education and in the criminal justice system. That is what our constitution and our highest ideals require. [applause] but laws alone wont be enough. Hearts must change. They wont change overnight. Social attitudes oftentimes take generations to change but if our democracy is to work the way it should in this increasingly diverse then each one of us need to try to heed the advice of a great character in america fiction, atticus finch, who said you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his kin and walk around in it. That means tying our own real challenges for justice to the challenges that a lot of people in this country ace. Not only the poor or the transgender person but also the middleaged white guy who from the outside may seem hes doing ok but has seen his world upended by social only cal and technological change. We need to Pay Attention and listen. [applause] for white americans, it means acknowledging that the affect of slavery and jim crow didnt sudden livannish in the 1960s. Theyre not just engaging in reverse discrimination. Theyre not demanding special treatment but the equal treatment that our founders promised. For nativeborn americans, it means reminding us that the stereotypes of immigrants today were said almost word for word about the irish and italians and poles, who it was said were going to destroy the fundamental character of america. And as it turned out, america wasnt weakened by the presence of these newcomers. These newcomers embraced this nations creed and this nation was strengthened. So [applause] so regardless of the station that we occupy, we all have to try harder. We all have to start with the premise that each of our fellow citizens love this country just as much as we do, that they value hard work and family just like we do. That their children are just as curious and hopeful and worthy of love as our own. [applause] and thats not easy to do. For too many of us, its become safer to retreat into our own bubbles, whether in our neighborhoods or on College Campuses or places of worship or especially our surrounded by people who look like us and share the same political outlook and never challenge our assumptions and the rise of neighborhood partisanship and increasing economic and regional stratification, the splitting of our media into a channel for every taste. All this makes this great sorting seem natural, even inevitable. And increasingly we become so secure in our bubbles that we start accepting only information, whether its true or not, that fits our opinions. Instead of basing our opinions on the evidence that is out there. [applause] and this trend represents a third threat to our democracy. Look, politics is a battle of ideas. Thats how our democracy was designed. In the course of a healthy debate, we prioritize different goals and the different means of reaching them. But without some common baseline of facts, without a willingness to admit new information and concede that your opponent might be making a fair point and that science and reason matter, then were going to keep talking past each other and well make Common Ground and compromise impossible. [applause] and isnt that part of what so often makes politics dispiriting . How can elected officials rage about deficits when we propose to spend money on preschool for kids but not when were cutting taxing for corporations . How do we excuse ethical lapses in our own parties but pounce when the other party does the same thing . Its not just dishonest, this selective sorting of the facts. Its selfdefeating, because, as my mom used to tell me, reality has a way of catching up with you. [applause] take the challenge of climate change. In just eight years, weve halved our dependence on foreign oil, weve doubled our renewable energy. Weve led the world to an agreement that is the promise to save this has the promise to save this planet. But without bolder action, our children wont have time to debate the existence of climate change. Theyll be busy dealing with its effects, more environmental disasters, more economic disruption. Waves of climate refugees seeking sanctuary. We can and should argue about the best approach to solve the problem. But to simply deny the problem, not only betrays future generations, it betrays the essential spirit of this country, the essential spirit of innovation and practical problem solving that guided our founders. [applause] it is that spirit it is that spirit born of the enlightenment that made us an economic powerhouse, the spirit that took flight at kitty hawk and cape canaveral. The spirit that cures disease and put a computer in every pocket. Its that spirit, a neither in reason and enterprise and that the primacy of right over might that allowed us resist the lure of fash schism and tyranny during the great depression, that allowed us to build a postworld war ii order with other democracies. An order based not just on military power or national affiliations but built on principles, the rule of law, human rights, freedom of religion and speech and assembly and an independent press. [applause] that order is now being challenged. First by violent fanatics who claim to speak for islam. More recently by autocrats in foreign capitals who see free markets and open democracies and Civil Society itself as a threat to their power. The peril each poses to our democracy is more far reaching than a car bomb or a missile. They represent the fear of change. The fear of people who look or speak or pray differently. A contempt for the rule of law that holds leaders accountable. An intolerance of disent and free thought, a belief that the sword or the gun or the bomb or the Propaganda Machine is the ultimate arbiter of whats true and whats right. Because of the extraordinary courage of our men and women in uniform, because of our Intelligence Officers and Law Enforcement and diplomats who support our troops [applause] no Foreign Terrorist Organization has successfully planned and executed an attack on our homeland these past eight years. [applause] and although boston and orlando and San Bernardino and fort hood remind us of how dangerous radicalization can be, our Law Enforcement agencies are more effective and vigilant than ever. Weve taken out tens of thousands of terrorists, including bin laden. [applause] the Global Coalition were leading against isil has taken out their leaders and taken away about half their territory. Isil will be destroyed and no one who threatens america will ever be safe and all who serve who have served it has been the honor of my lifetime to be my commander n chief and we all owe awe eep of gratitude. [applause] but protecting our way of thats not just the job of our military. Democracy can buckle. It gives in to fear. So just as we as remain vigilant against external aggression we must weakening of the values who make us who we are. For the past eight years. I have worked to put the fight gainst terrorism on a firmer legal footing. Thats why weve ended torture, gitmo. To close reformed our laws governing surveillance to protect privacy civil liberties. [applause] president obama thats why i discrimination against muslim americans, who are just patriotic as we are. Mra[applause] thats why we cannot withdraw global fights tokes spanned democracy, human rights, rights. Rights, lgbt no matter how imperfect our efforts. Matter how expedient ignoring such values may seem. Thats part of defending america. The fight against extremism and and sectarian chauvinism and nationalist aggression. Scope of freedom and for the rule of law the likelihood of war increases and our own freedoms eventually be threatened. Vigilant but not afraid. Try to kill innocent people. But they cant defeat america unless we betray our and our principles in the fight. Mrauz mra [applause] like sdrussia or china cant match, and just turn big lves into another bullies smaller neighbors. To our final e point. Our democracy is threatened for granted. Ake it mra[applause] all of us, regardless of party, should be throwing ourselves task of rebuilding our democratic institutions. Rates in america are some of the lowest among advanced democracies, we should making it easier, not harder to vote. Mra[applause] president obama when trust in our institutions is low, we reduce the corruption of money and insist on the rinciples of transparency and ethics and public service. Dysfunctional, we should draw our congressional districts to encourage cater to common not rigid extremes. Sen. Duckworth but remember own. Of this happens on its this depends on our participation. On each of us accepting the responsibility of citizenship, which tway f happens to be er swinging. Ur constitution is a remarkable, beautiful gift. Piece of eally just a parchment. It has no power on its own. We the people give it power. We, the people, give it mean with our participation and the choice that is we make and the that we forge. [applause] we stand up for our freedoms, who we respect and law. Rce the rule of to us. Up merica is no fragile thing but the gains to long term freedom are not assured. Address, farewell George Washington wrote that selfgovernment is the our safety, of prosperity and liberty. Causes and ferent from different quarters much pains will be taken to weaken in the conviction of this truth. Preserve this truth with jealous anxiety that e should reject the first dawning of any attempt to alienate any portion of our from the rest or to makee the sacred ties that us one. Mra [applause] we weaken those ties when we allow political dialogue to so correspond rose sieve. With ranker, that americans with whom we disagree misguided t just as as malevolent. We weaken those tires when we those ties when we write off the whole system as equally corrupt, and when we sit back and blame the leaders that we elect without examining our own role in electing them. [applause] president obama it is up to each of us to be those jealous guardians of our democracy, to embrace the task we have been given to continually trying to prove this great nation of ours. For all of our outward differences, we all share the most Important Office in democracy, citizen. [applause] president obama citizen. So, you see, that is what our democracy demands. It needs you. Not just when there is an election, not just when your own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime. If youre tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try talking with one of them in real life. [laughter] [applause] president obama if something needs fixing, then do some organizing. [applause] president obama if you are disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself. [applause] president obama show up, dive in, stay at it. Sometimes you will win, sometimes you will lose. Presuming a reservoir a goodness in other people, that can be a risk. There will be times when the process will disappoint you. For those of us fortunate enough to be part of this work, and to see it up close, let me tell you, it can energize and inspire. More often than not, your faith in america, and in americans, will be confirmed. Mine sure has been. [applause] president obama over the course of these eight years, i have seen the hopeful faces of young graduates, and the newest military officers, i have mourned with grieving families searching for answers, and found grace at the charleston church. I have seen a scientist help the paralyzed man regained his sense of touch. I have seen wounded warriors, who were at points given up for dead, walk again. I have seen doctors and volunteers rebuild after earthquakes and stop pandemics in their tracks. I have seen the youngest of children remind us of our obligation to help refugees and work for peace, and above all, look out for each other. [applause] president obama so, that faith isolated, not very far from here, in the power of americans to bring about change that fate has been rewarded in ways i could not possibly imagine. I hope your faith has too. Some of you here tonight, or watching at home, you were with us in 2004 and 2008. [cheers] president obama maybe you still cant believe we pulled this thing off. Let me tell you, you are not the only one. [laughter] president Obama Michelle [cheers] president Obama Michelle robinson, girl of the southside, for the past 25 years, you have not only been my wife and mother of my children, you have been my best friend. [applause] president obama you took on a roll you did not ask for role you did not ask for, and you made it your own. [cheers] president obama you make the white house a place that belongs to everybody, and a new generations that sets its sights higher because they had you as a role model. You make me proud, and you made the country proud. [applause] president obama malia and sasha, under the strangest of consequences, you have become two of amazing young women. You are smart and beautiful, but more importantly, you are kind and thoughtful, and full of passion. [applause] president obama you bore the burden of years in the spotlight so easily. Of all i have done in my life, im most proud to be your dad. [applause] president obama to joe biden [cheers] president obama you were the first decision ive made as a nominee, and it was the best. [applause] president obama not just because you have been a great Vice President , but because in the bargain, i gained a brother. We love you and jill like a family. Your friendship has been one of the great joys. To my remarkable staff, for eight years, and for some of you, a whole lot more, i have drawn from your energy, and every day i tried to reflect back what you display heart, character, idealism. I have watched you grow up, get married, have kids, start incredible new journeys of your own. Even when times got tough, and frustrating, you never let washington get the better of you. You guarded against cynicism. The only thing that makes me prouder than all that we have done is the thought of all the Amazing Things you will achieve from here. [applause] president obama to all of you out there, every organizer who moved to an unfamiliar town, every kind family that welcomed them in, every volunteer that knocked on doors, every young person the cast of valid for the first time, every american that lives and breathes the hard work of change, you are the best organizers and supporters anyone could hope for. I will be forever grateful. You did change the world. You did. [applause] president obama that is why i leave this stage tonight even more optimistic than when we started. Because i know our work has not only helped so many americans, has inspired so many americans, especially so many young people out there. To believe that you can make a difference. Let me tell you, this generation coming up, unselfish, altruistic, creative, patriotic i have seen you in every corner of america. You are ready to carry the hard work of democracy forward. You will soon outnumber all of us. I believe the future is in good hands. [applause] president obama my fellow americans, it has been the honor of my life to serve you. I will not stop. In fact, i will be right there with you as a citizen all my remaining days. [applause] president obama for now, whether you are young, or young at heart, i do have one final ask of you as your president. The same thing i asked when you took a chance on me eight years ago. Im asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change, but in yours. Im asking you to hold fast in that faith written into our founding documents, that was whispered by slaves and abolitionists, that freed, reaffirmed by those who planted flags in foreign battlefields to the surface of the moon a creed in the core of every american that is not yet written. Yes we can. God bless you. [cheers] bless the bama god United States of america. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2017]5 [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] communicators,he tech issues facing congress, administration, and society. They are interviewed by ashley gold, Political Technology reporter. Proponents, we know that ere asking people to consider putting hundreds of thousands of speakers, and of theirs diagnostic into their to s and body and weve got get it right on whether or not for youring to do that own benefit. If you feel that your privacy be unfairly taxed. The other thing is to make we have lawes that are up to date with the way things work today. Policies outdated that didnt contemplate everything from ecommerce to people having cell phones and all the information thats transmitted u. S. But around the world. So we have a lot to do to keep not only up to date tonight at 8 00 eastern, real an history tv, america will air the historic women if the the time has come. Originally created for overseas film, recently restored documents the progress f africanamericans by elected several newly black public officials. Im making though community. On my registration, voting, about pation is bringing a new sense of hope, not just a hope and optimism but also bringing about a empowerment. Onomic American History tv on cspan 3. Schedule go to cspan. Org. The cspan Video Library is an to see programs and to help with its use is dr. Robert browning executive director of cspan arrest kooifrs. Cspan. Org, on thesible