Challenge our assumptions and the rise of naked partisan ship and the splitting of our tastes it makes it inevitable. Instead of bases our opinions on the evidence that is out there. And this represents the 3rd threat to our democracy. Politics is a battle of ideas. Thats how our democracy was designed in the course of a healthy debate we prioritize goals and the different means of reaching them. Without some common baseline effects, without a willingness to see new information and see that the opponent is making a fair point and that science and reason matter, then we will keep talking past each other and we will make Common Ground and compromise impossible. [ applause ] isnt that what makes politic disspiritting. How can elected officials wage about deficits when we spend money on preschool for kids but not when we are cutting taxes for corporations . How do we excuse lapses in our party but pass when the other party does the same thing . It is not just dishonest this selective sorting, it is self defeating. Because as my mom used to tell me, reality has a way of catching up with you. Take the challenge of climate change. In just 8 years we have had our dependence on foreign oil and we have led the world to an agreement as a promise to save this planet. [ cheering and applause ] but without bolder action, our children wont have time to debate the issue of climate change, they will have to keel with its effects. More environmental disasters and ways 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 betray future generations, it betrays the essential spirit of this country, the essential spirit of innovation and practical solving that guided our founders. [ applause ] it is that spirit. I is that spirit born of the enlightenment that made us an economic power house. The spirit that took flight at kitty hawk and cape canaveral. The spirit that cures disease and put a computer in every pocket. It is that spirit, a faith in reason and enterprise and the promise that allowed us to resist the lure of fascism and tyranny during the great depression. And that allowed us to build a post world 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 independent press. [ applause ] that order is now being challenged. First by violent fanatics who claim to speak for islam, more recently by auto crafts that seek free markets and Civil Society itself as a threat to their power. The peril each poses to our democracy is more farreaching than a car bomb or a missile. They represent the fear of change. The fear of people who look or speak or pray different. A contempt for the rule of law that holds leaders accountable. An intolerance of dissent and free thought. The belief that the sword or the gun or the bomb or the Propaganda Machine is the ultimate arbitrator of what is true and right. Because of the extraordinary courage of our men and women in uniform and intelligence and Law Enforcement and diplomats that support our troops no Foreign Terrorist Organization has successfully planned and attacked our home land in these past 8 years. And although boston and orlando and San Bernardino and fort hood remind us of how dangerous radical says can be our Law Enforcement is more effective than ever. We have taken out tens of thousands of terrorists including osama bin laden. The Global Coalition we are leading against isol has taken their leaders and half the territory. Isol will be destroyed and no one that threatens america will ever be safe and all that serve or have served, it has been the honor of my life time to be your commander and chief and we all owe you a big debt of gratitude. [ cheering and applause ] but protecting our way of life, thats not just the job of our military, democracy can buckle when it gives into fear. So just as we as citizens must remain vigilant against external aggression, we must guard against a weakening of the values that make us who we are. And thats why for the past 8 years ive worked to put the fight against terrorism on a firmer legal footing. Thats why weve ended torture, reformed our laws governing surveillance to protect privacy and civil liberties. Thats why i object against discrimination against moslem americans that are just as patriotic as we are. [ applause ] thats why we cannot withdraw thats why we cannot withdraw from big global fights to expand the democracy and huge rights and lgtb rights. No matter how imperfect our efforts. No matter how expedient ignoring such values may seem. Thats part of defending america. For the fight against extremism and intolerance and secretaryism and chauvinism is the peace against authorism. If respect is around the world, the likelihood of war in and between nations increases and our own freedoms will eventually be threatened. So lets be vigilant and not afraid. Isol will try to kill innocent people. But they cannot defeat america unless we portray our constitution in the fight. Rivals like russia or china cant match our influence around the world unless we give up what we stand for and turn ourselves in to a big country that bullies smaller neighbors. Which brings me to our final point. Our democracy, our democracy is threatened whenever we take it for granted. [ applause ] all of us regardless of party should be throwing ourselves into the task of rebuilding our democratic institutions. When voting rates in america are some of the lowest among advanced democracies, we should be making it easier and not harder to vote. When votes in our institutions are low, we should reduce the corrosive money in politics and insist on efficacy and public service. When congress is dysfunctional, we should draw our congressional districts to encourage politicians to cater to common sense and not rigid extremes. But remember none of this happens on its own. All of this depends on our participation. On each of us accepting the responsibility of citizenship. Regardless of which way the pendulum of power happens to swing. Our constitution is a remarkable, beautiful gift. But it is really just a piece of parchment. It has no power on its own. We, the people, give it power. We, the people, give it meaning with our participation and with the choices that we make. And the alliances that we forge. Whether or not we stand up for our freedom, whether or not we respect and enforce the rule of law. Thats up to us. America is no fragile thing but the gains of our long journey to freedom are not assured. And in his own farewell address George Washington wrote that Self Government is the under pinning of our safety, prosperity and liberty. But from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth. And so we have to preserve this truth with jealous anxiety that we should reject the first donning of every attempt to alienate every portion of our country from the rest or to weaken our ties. We do that when we allow our dialogue to be corrosive that people of good character are not willing to enter into public service. So course with ranks that americans with whom we disagree are seen not just as misguided but as malevolent. We weaken those ties when we define some of us as more american than others. When we write off the whole system as inevitably corrupt and when we sit back and blame the leaders we elect without examining our own role in electing them. It falls to each of us to be those anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy. To continually try to improve this great nation of ours because for all of off outward differences, we in fact all share the same proud title, the most Important Office in the democracy, citizen. Citizen. [ applause ] so you see thats 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 you are tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try talking with one of them in real life. If something needs fixing, then lace up your shoes and do some organizing. If you are disappointed by your elected officials, grab a board and get some signatures and run for office yourself. Show up. Dive in. Stay at it. Sometimes youll win. Sometimes youll lose. Presuming a reservoir of goodness in other people, that can be a risk and there will be times when the process will disappoint you. But those of us fortunate enough to have been part of this world and to see it up close, let me tell you, it can energize and inspire. And more often than not, your faith in america and in americans will be confirmed. Mine sure has been. [ applause ] over the course of these 8 years, i have seen the hopeful faces of young graduates and our newest military officers. I have mourned with grieving families, searching for answers and found grace in charleston church. I have seen our scientists help a paralyzed man regain his sense of touch. I have seen Wounded Warriors who at points were given up for dead walk again. I have seen our doctors and volunteers rebuild after earthquakes rebuild. I have seen the youngest of children remind us through their actions and through their generosity of our obligations to care for refugees or work for peace. And above all, to look out for each other. [ applause ] so thats faith that i placed all those years ago, not far from here in the power of ordinary americans to bring about change. That faith has been rewarded in ways i could not have possibly imagined and i hope your faith has too. Some of you here tonight watching at home, you were there with us in 2004 and in 2008 and 2012. Maybe you still can believe we have pulled this whole thing off. Let me tell you, you are not the only ones. Michelle. [ applause ] Michelle Lavonne robinson girl of the south for the past 25 years you have not only been my wife and mother of my children, you have been my best friend. You took on a role you didnt ask for and you made it your own with grace and with grit and with style and with humor. [ applause ] you made the white house a place that belongs to everybody and a new generation sets its sites higher because it has you as a role model so you have made me proud and you have made the country proud. Malia and sasha, under the strangest of circumstances, you have become two amazing young women. You are smart and beautiful but more importantlily you are kind and you are thoughtful and full of passion. And youre were the burden for so many years in the spotlight. Of all that i have done in my life i am most proud to be your dad. To joe biden. [ applause ] the scrapie kid from scranton who became delawares favorite son you were the first decision i made as a nominee and it was the best. Not just because you have been a great Vice President but because in the bargain i gained a brother and we love you and jill like family and your friendship has been one of the great joys of our lives. [ applause ] to my remarkable staff, for 8 years and for some of you a lot more i have drawn from your energy and every day i try to reflect back what you displayed, heart and character and idealism. I have watched you grow up, get married, have kids. Start an 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 and the only things that make me prouder of what we have done is the Amazing Things that you will achieve from here. [ applause ] and to all of you out there. Every organizer that moved to an unfamiliar town, every kind family who welcomed the men. Every volunteer that knocked on doors. Every young person that cast a ballot for the first time, every american who lived and breathed the hard work of change, you are the best supporters and organizers that everybody could hope for and i will be forever grateful because you did change the world. You did. And thats why i leave this stage tonight even more optimistic about this country because i know our work has not only helped so many americans, it has inspired so many americans. Especially so many young people out there to believe that you can make a difference. To hitch a wagon to something bigger than yourself. Let me tell you this generation coming up unselfish altruistic and creative patriotic, i have seen you in every corner of the country. You believe in a fair and just and inclusive america. You know the constant change has been americas hall mark, that it is not something to fear but something to embrace. You are willing to carry the hard work of democracy forward. You will soon outnumber all of us and i believe that the future is in good hands. [ applause ] my fellow americans it has been the honor of my life to serve you. I wont stop. In fact i will be there right with you as a citizen for all of my remaining days. But for now whether you are young or whether you are 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 8 years ago ago, i am asking you to believe not in my ability to bring about change but in yours. I am asking you to hold fast to that faith written to our founding documents, that whisper by slaves and abolitionists and that spirit by homesteaders and those that marched for justice. That creed reaffirmed by those that planted flags from foreign battlefields to the surface of the moon. A story from every creative american that is not yet written. Yes, we can. Yes, we did. And yes, we can. Thank you, god bless you. May god continue to bless the United States of america. Thank you. [ cheering and applause ] all right. You have been listening to the farewell address where 8 years ago he gave his acceptance speech. We watched his thanked his family and bring them up on stage and got emotional talking to the crowd about michelle and his two girls. He talked about what he accomplished and a call to action. He is most emotional talking specifically about his wife, michelle obama. And we are here with our political analyst james taylor. What you thought tonight. The setting was not what i thought. His real audience was the future, not the crowd. And when you think about eisenhowers farewell address it is so powerful because you had this man standing by himself standing i am warning you against the dangers of the military complex. Please take heed. That is what president obama is trying to convey but he gets caught up in this speech and the way he wants the adulation of the crowd to confirm something about him. In a real way i think president obama had had the opportunity for the future. I think that is what he was trying to do. I think he was trying to prepare the countrys arguments for trump for the left and right and conservatives for the trump administration. But i thought the setting was exaggerated for the kind of somber moment and the country in terms of how half the country reacted to the election. I didnt think we needed a campaign setting. It may be a pet peeve but it took away from the setoff of barack obama and him saying from the sincerity of his heart here is what i tried to do and accomplished and here is what i failed and the future holds and you as the citizen can react and sure up the democracy and he talked about democracy. He kept talking about the state of our democracy like a more Perfect Union in 2004. The state of our democracy. Dont take it for granted. A basis sense of solidarity. The common good. He started out by talking about the work he did as a Community Organizer and he wants to build the Community Center and the library. And my brothers keeper will be a important program. Jimmy carter left a wonderful example for modern president s with the Clinton Foundation with the world. I want to be correct. Im not one hundred percent sure but if obama is the young echt youngest man to survivor the office lets see what he will do. You will find video of president obamas Farewell Speech and you will find it at the top of our home page and our coverage continues right now at 7 00 on ktvu plus with news, weather and sports. Im 26 more likely to develop an irregular heartbeat. I have a 65 higher chance of developing diabetes. No matter who we are, these diseases can be managed or prevented when caught early on. Because with better research, the right medicine, and with doctors who help keep me healthy to begin with, we will thrive. Oh, hey, we ran into your mom at benihana last night. Uh, yeah, she loves that place. Every time they flip a shrimp in the air, she practically leaps out of her seat to catch it. Thats why i dont take her to seaworld. I know youyou dont want to hear it, but she was there with stuart. Thats fine. I dont care. It doesnt bug you when they go out on dates . Theyre not dating. Theyre just two friends who went out to dinner. And then went back to the home they share where they probably fell asleep in the matching pajamas she got them because they both just love penguins. Hey, lots of people wear matching pajamas who arent dating. Like who . Like you and your dog. Dont rule out the dating. Fine, it bothers me. You happy . You think youve got problems. The gibbon is the only member of the ape family not classified as a great ape