第一篇：奥巴马电台演讲on BP

编辑点评：本周电视讲话中，奥巴马总统宣布已签署一项行政命令成立两党联合的关于BP深海地平线石油泄漏和近海钻井的国家调查委员会。并提名前两届佛罗里达州长兼参议员鲍勃•格雷汉姆以及前环保局局长威廉•瑞利共同担任该委员会主席。

One month ago this week, BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded off Louisiana's coast, killing 11 people and rupturing an underwater pipe.The

resulting oil spill has not only dealt an economic blow to Americans across the Gulf Coast, it also represents an environmental disaster.一个月前，BP的深海地平线钻井机在路易斯安那海岸发生爆炸，造成11人死亡和深海管道的炸裂。随之而来的石油泄露沉重打击了墨西哥海湾沿岸的美国居民，也造成了严重的生态灾难。

In response, we are drawing on America's best minds and using the world's best technology to stop the leak.We've deployed over 1,100 vessels, about 24,000 personnel, and more than 2 million total feet of boom to help contain it.And we’re doing all we can to assist struggling fishermen, and the small businesses and communities that depend on them.为了应对，我们召集了美国顶尖的科技人员，采用世界上最先进的技术来封堵泄露。我们部署了1100多艘船，2.4万人员，以及200多万英尺的围栏来围住泄露的原油。同时我们竭尽所能帮助受灾渔民，小公司以及社区度过难关。

Folks on the Gulf Coast – and across America – are rightly demanding swift action to clean up BP's mess and end this ordeal.But they’re also demanding to know how this happened in the first place, and how we can make sure it never happens again.That’s what I’d like to spend a few minutes talking with you about.墨西哥海湾沿岸以及全美国的人民都要求迅速采取措施清理BP的烂摊子，结束这场折磨。他们还要求第一时间知道这事儿是怎么发生的，以及我们如何确保今后不发生类似的情况。这就是我今天要花时间谈的内容。

First and foremost, what led to this disaster was a breakdown of responsibility on the part of BP and perhaps others, including Transocean and Halliburton.And we will continue to hold the relevant companies accountable not only for being forthcoming and transparent about the facts surrounding the leak, but for

shutting it down, repairing the damage it does, and repaying Americans who’ve suffered a financial loss.首要的是，导致这场灾难的是BP以及其他包括Transocean和Halliburton等公司的责任缺失。我们将持续要求相关公司对此负责，不仅仅包括即将公布的关于泄露的真实原因，还有堵住泄露，修复其造成的损伤，并为因此而受灾的美国人民赔偿经济损失。

But even as we continue to hold BP accountable, we also need to hold

Washington accountable.Now, this catastrophe is unprecedented in its nature, and it presents a host of new challenges we are working to address.But the question is what lessons we can learn from this disaster to make sure it never happens again.在我们持续要求BP负责的时候，我们也应该要求华盛顿负责。当下，这场重大灾难本身是空前的，它向我们的工作提出了新的需要应对的挑战。但问题是，我们能从这场灾难中学到些什么东西以确保今后不发生类似的事故。

If the laws on our books are inadequate to prevent such an oil spill, or if we didn't enforce those laws – I want to know it.I want to know what worked and what didn't work in our response to the disaster, and where oversight of the oil and gas industry broke down.We know, for example, that a cozy relationship between oil and gas companies and agencies that regulate them has long been a source of concern.是我们的法律条文缺乏预防这种石油泄露的规定，还是我们没有按照法律规定贯彻实施，我想知道这一点。我想要知道在应对灾难中，哪些起作用了，哪些没有起作用，以及在油气工业的监管中在哪里出了问题。例如我们知道，油气公司和监管机关的暧昧关系一直都是人们忧虑的隐患。

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has taken steps to address this problem;steps that build on reforms he has been implementing since he took office.But we need to do a lot more to protect the health and safety of our people;to safeguard the quality of our air and water;and to preserve the natural beauty and bounty of America.内务部长肯•萨拉查（Ken Salazar）已经采取措施处理这一问题；这些措施建立在他上任以来就一直在进行的改革方案之上。但我们需要做更多来保护人民的健康和安全；保证我们的空气和水的质量；保卫美国的自然美景和辽阔疆域。

In recent weeks, we've taken a number of immediate measures to prevent another spill.We've ordered inspections of all deepwater operations in the Gulf of Mexico.We’ve announced that no permits for drilling new wells will go forward until the 30-day safety and environmental review I requested is

complete.And I've called on Congress to pass a bill that would provide critical funds and tools to respond to this spill and better prepare us to confront any future spills.最近几周，我们采取了数项紧急措施以预防发生类似泄露。我们责令墨西哥海湾的所有深海作业平台展开检查。我们已经声明，新开钻井在30天的必须的安全和环境评估检查结束之前不允许钻探。同时我要求国会通过一项法案来提供临时资金和手段使我们为应对今后的泄露事件做出更好的准备。

But we also need to take a comprehensive look at how the oil and gas industry operates and how we regulate them.That is why, on Friday, I signed an executive order establishing the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.While there are a number of ongoing investigations, including an independent review by the National Academy of Engineering, the purpose of this Commission is to consider both the root causes of the disaster and offer options on what safety and environmental precautions we need to take to prevent a similar disaster from happening again.This

Commission, I'd note, is similar to one proposed by Congresswoman Capps and Senator Whitehouse.但我们依然需要全面了解油气工业的运营以及我们如何监管他们。这是我周五签署成立关于BP深海地平线石油泄漏和近海钻井的国家调查委员会的行政命令的原因。由于已经有了一些正在进行中的调查，其中包括国家工程研究院的独立调查，该委员会的目标包括找出这次灾难的根源以及提出我们需要采取的安全和环境预防措施来预防类似灾难发生。需要说明的是，该委员会有点类似国会议员Capps和参议员Whitehouse的提议。

I’ve asked Democrat Bob Graham and Republican Bill Reilly to co-chair this Commission.Bob served two terms as Florida’s governor, and represented Florida as a United States Senator for almost two decades.During that time, he earned a reputation as a champion of the environment, leading the most extensive environmental protection effort in the state’s history.我已经邀请民主党的鲍勃•格雷汉姆和共和党的比尔•瑞利共同担任该委员会主席。鲍勃是两届佛罗里达州长，并代表佛罗里达州任美国参议员长达20年。在此期间，他赢得了环境领域的最高荣誉，领导了美国历史上最广泛的环境保护工作。

Bill Reilly is chairman emeritus of the board of the World Wildlife Fund, and he is also deeply knowledgeable about the oil and gas industry.During the

presidency of George H.W.Bush, Bill was Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and his tenure encompassed the Exxon Valdez disaster.比尔•瑞利是世界野生物基金会的退休荣誉主席，在油气工业方面有很深的造诣。在布什总统任职期间，比尔是环境保护局的局长，他在任期内处理了埃克森-瓦尔迪兹号（Exxon Valdez）油轮泄漏事件。

I can’t think of two people who will bring greater experience or better judgment to the task at hand.In the days to come, I’ll appoint 5 other distinguished

Americans – including scientists, engineers, and environmental advocates – to join them on the Commission.And I’m directing them to report back in 6 months with recommendations on how we can prevent – and mitigate the impact of – any future spills that result from offshore drilling.我不能指望两个人就为现在的任务带来更多经验和更好的判断。在接下来的日子里，我将任命另外5名杰出的美国人，包括科学家，工程师以及环保人士加入到这个委员会中。我将任命他们在六个月内返回相关建议：我们如何预防今后由近海钻探引起的石油泄露以及减轻其影响。

One of the reasons I ran for President was to put America on the path to energy independence, and I have not wavered from that commitment.To achieve that goal, we must pursue clean energy and energy efficiency, and we've taken significant steps to do so.And we must also pursue domestic sources of oil and

gas.Because it represents 30 percent of our oil production, the Gulf of Mexico can play an important part in securing our energy future.But we can only

pursue offshore oil drilling if we have assurances that a disaster like the BP oil spill will not happen again.This Commission will, I hope, help provide those assurances so we can continue to seek a secure energy future for the United States of America.我竞选总统的原因之一就是让美国走上能源独立的道路，而且一直以来从未动摇。为达成这一目标，我们必须继续追求清洁能源和能源利用效率，而且我们已经取得了一些重大进展。同时我们还要继续勘探国内的油气资源。因为它代表了我们30%的石油产出，墨西哥海湾在我们未来能源安全中将扮演重要角色。但只有在我们能确保类似BP石油泄露的灾难不会再一次发生，我们才能开采近海石油。我希望，这个委员会能帮助提供相关保障，确保我们继续寻求美国未来的能源安全。

第二篇：奥巴马电台演讲2011-2012

1.Calling on Congress to Prevent Student Interest Rates from Doubling Saturday, April 21, 2012

Hi.This week, I got the chance to sit down with some impressive students at Lorain County Community College in Ohio.One of them was a woman named Andrea Ashley.Two years ago, Andrea lost her job as an HR analyst.Today, she’s getting certified in the fast-growing field of electronic medical records.Before enrolling at Lorain, Andrea told me she was looking everywhere trying to find a new job.But without a degree, she said that nobody would hire her.Andrea’s story isn’t unique.I’ve met so many Americans who are out there pounding the pavement looking for work only to discover that they need new skills.And I’ve met a lot of employers who are looking for workers, but can’t find ones with the skills they’re looking for.So we should be doing everything we can to put higher education within reach for every American – because at a time when the unemployment rate for Americans with at least a college degree is about half the national average, it’s never been more important.But here’s the thing: it’s also never been more expensive.Students who take out loans to pay for college graduate owing an average of $25,000.For the first time, Americans owe more debt on their student loans than they do on their credit cards.And for many working families, the idea of owing that much money means that higher education is simply out of reach for their children.In America, higher education cannot be a luxury.It’s an economic imperative that every family must be able to afford.That’s why next week I’ll be visiting colleges across the country, talking to students about how we can make higher education more affordable – and what’s at stake right now if Congress doesn’t do something about it.You see, if Congress doesn’t act, on July 1st interest rates on some student loans will double.Nearly seven and half million students will end up owing more on their loan payments.That would be a tremendous blow.And it’s completely preventable.This issue didn’t come out of nowhere.For some time now, I’ve been calling on Congress to take steps to make higher education more affordable – to prevent these interest rates from doubling, to extend the tuition tax credit that has saved middle-class families millions of dollars, and to double the number of work-study jobs over the next five years.Instead, over the past few years, Republicans in Congress have voted against new ways to make college more affordable for middle-class families, and voted for huge new tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires – tax cuts that would have to be paid for by cutting things like education and job-training programs that give students new opportunities to work and succeed.We cannot just cut our way to prosperity.Making it harder for our young people to afford higher education and earn their degrees is nothing more than cutting our own future off at the knees.Congress needs to keep interest rates on student loans from doubling, and they need to do it now.This is a question of values.We cannot let America become a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of people struggle to get by.We’ve got to build an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules.That’s how the middle class gets stronger.That’s an economy that’s built to last.And I’m not only going to take that case to college campuses next week – I’m going to take it to every part of the country this year.Thanks, and have a great weekend.2.It’s Time for Congress to Pass the Buffett Rule

April 14, 2012

One of the fundamental challenges of our time is building an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules.And as many Americans rush to file their taxes this weekend, it’s worth pointing out that we’ve got a tax system that doesn’t always uphold the principle of everyone doing their part.Now, this is not just about fairness.This is also about growth.It’s about being able to make the investments we need to strengthen our economy and create jobs.And it’s about whether we as a country are willing to pay for those investments.In a perfect world, of course, none of us would have to pay any taxes.We’d have no deficits to pay down.And we’d have all the resources we needed to invest in things like schools and roads and a strong military and new sources of energy – investments that have always bolstered our economy and strengthened the middle class.But we live in the real world, with real choices and real consequences.Right now, we’ve got significant deficits to close.We’ve got serious investments to make to keep our economy growing.And we can’t afford to keep spending more money on tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans who don’t need them and didn’t even ask for them.Warren Buffett is one of the wealthiest men in the world.But he pays a lower tax rate than his secretary.That’s just the way the system is set up.In fact, one in four millionaires pays a lower tax rate than millions of hardworking middle-class households.As Warren points out, that’s not fair and it doesn’t make sense.It’s wrong that middle-class Americans pay a higher share of their income in taxes than some millionaires and billionaires.This week, Members of Congress are going to have a chance to set things right.They get to vote on what we call the Buffett Rule.It’s simple: If you make more than $1 million every year, you should pay at least the same percentage of your income in taxes as middle-class families do.On the other hand, if you make less than $250,000 a year--like 98 percent of American families do--your taxes shouldn’t go up.That’s all there is to it.It’s pretty sensible.Most Americans support this idea.One survey found that two-thirds of millionaires do, too.So do nearly half of all Republicans.We just need some Republican politicians to get on board with where the country is.I know they’ll say that this is all about wanting to raise people’s taxes.They probably won’t tell you that if you belong to a middle-class family, then I’ve cut your taxes each year that I’ve been in office, and I’ve cut taxes for small business owners 17 times.But the thing is, for most Americans like me, tax rates are near their lowest point in 50 years.In 2001 and 2003, the wealthiest Americans received two huge new tax cuts.We were told these tax cuts would lead to faster job growth.Instead, we got the slowest job growth in half a century, and the typical American family actually saw its income fall.On the flip side, when the most well-off Americans were asked to pay a little more in the 1990s, we were warned that it would kill jobs.Instead, tens of millions of jobs followed.So we’ve tried this trickle-down experiment before.It doesn’t work.And middle class families have seen too much of their security erode over the past few decades for us to tell them they’re going to have to do more because the wealthiest Americans are going to do less.We can’t stop investing in the things that will help grow our economy and create jobs – things like education, research, new sources of energy – just so folks like me can get another tax cut.So I hope you’ll ask your Member of Congress to step up and echo that call this week by voting for the Buffett Rule.Remind them that in America, prosperity has never just trickled down from a wealthy few.Prosperity has always been built by a strong, thriving middle class.That’s a principle worth reaffirming right now.Thank you, God bless you, and have a great weekend.3.Easter and Passover Greetings from President Obama April 7, 2012

For millions of Americans, this weekend is a time to celebrate redemption at God’s hand.Tonight, Jews will gather for a second Seder, where they will retell the story of the Exodus.And tomorrow, my family will join Christians around the world as we thank God for the all-important gift of grace through the resurrection of His son, and experience the wonder of Easter morning.These holidays have their roots in miracles that took place thousands of years ago.They connect us to our past and give us strength as we face the future.And they remind us of the common thread of humanity that connects us all.For me, and for countless other Christians, Easter weekend is a time to reflect and rejoice.Yesterday, many of us took a few quiet moments to try and fathom the tremendous sacrifice Jesus made for all of us.Tomorrow, we will celebrate the resurrection of a savior who died so that we might live.And throughout these sacred days, we recommit ourselves to following His example.We rededicate our time on Earth to selflessness, and to loving our neighbors.We remind ourselves that no matter who we are, or how much we achieve, we each stand humbled before an almighty God.Christ’s triumph over death holds special meaning for Christians.But all of us, no matter how or whether we believe, can identify with elements of His story.The triumph of hope over despair.Of faith over doubt.The notion that there is something out there that is bigger than ourselves.These beliefs help unite Americans of all faiths and backgrounds.They shape our values and guide our work.They put our lives in perspective.So to all Christians celebrating the Resurrection with us, Michelle and I want to wish you a blessed and Happy Easter.And to all Americans, I hope you have a weekend filled with joy and reflection, focused on the things that matter most.God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.4.Passing the Buffett Rule So That Everyone Pays Their Fair Share March 31, 2012

Hello.Over the last few months, I’ve been talking about a choice we face as a country.We can either settle for an economy where a few people do really well and everyone else struggles to get by, or we can build an economy where hard work pays off again – where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules.That’s up to us.Today, I want to talk to you about the idea that everyone in this country should do their fair share.Now, if this were a perfect world, we’d have unlimited resources.No one would ever have to pay any taxes, and we could spend as much as we wanted.But we live in the real world.We don’t have unlimited resources.We have a deficit that needs to be paid down.And we also have to pay for investments that will help our economy grow and keep our country safe: education, research and technology, a strong military, and retirement programs like Medicare and Social Security.That means we have to make choices.When it comes to paying down the deficit and investing in our future, should we ask middle-class Americans to pay even more at a time when their budgets are already stretched to the breaking point? Or should we ask some of the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share?

That’s the choice.Over the last decade, we’ve spent hundreds of billions of dollars on what was supposed to be a temporary tax cut for the wealthiest two percent of Americans.Now we’re scheduled to spend almost a trillion more.Today, the wealthiest Americans are paying taxes at one of the lowest rates in 50 years.Warren Buffett is paying a lower rate than his secretary.Meanwhile, over the last 30 years, the tax rates for middle class families have barely budged.That’s not fair.It doesn’t make any sense.Do we want to keep giving tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans like me, or Warren Buffett, or Bill Gates – people who don’t need them and never asked for them? Or do we want to keep investing in things that will grow our economy and keep us secure? Because we can’t afford to do both.Now, some people call this class warfare.But I think asking a billionaire to pay at least the same tax rate as his secretary is just common sense.We don’t envy success in this country.We aspire to it.But we also believe that anyone who does well for themselves should do their fair share in return, so that more people have the opportunity to get ahead – not just a few.That’s the America I believe in.And in the next few weeks, Members of Congress will get a chance to show you where they stand.Congress is going to vote on what’s called the Buffett Rule: If you make more than $1 million a year, you should pay at least the same percentage of your income in taxes as middle class families do.On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year – like 98 percent of American families do – your taxes shouldn’t go up.You’re the ones struggling with the rising cost of everything from college tuition to groceries.You’re the ones who deserve a break.So every Member of Congress is going to go on record.And if they vote to keep giving tax breaks to people like me – tax breaks our country can’t afford – then they’re going to have to explain to you where that money comes from.Either it’s going to add to our deficit, or it’s going to come out of your pocket.Seniors will have to pay more for their Medicare benefits.Students will see their interest rates go up at a time when they can’t afford it.Families who are scraping by will have to do more because the richest Americans are doing less.That’s not right.That’s not who we are.In America, our story has never been about what we can do by ourselves – it’s about what we can do together.It’s about believing in our future and the future of this country.So tell your Members of Congress to do the right thing.Call them up, write them a letter, pay them a visit, and tell them to stop giving tax breaks to people who don’t need them and start investing in the things that will help our economy grow and put people back to work.That’s how we’ll make this country a little fairer, a little more just, and a whole lot stronger.Thank you.5.President Obama Says House Must Pass Bipartisan Transportation Bill Saturday March 24, 2012

Hello.This week, I traveled across the country to talk about my all-of-the-above energy strategy for America – a strategy where we produce more oil and gas here at home, but also more biofuels and fuel-efficient cars;more solar power and wind power and other sources of clean, renewable energy.Now, you wouldn’t know it by listening to some of the folks running for office today, but producing more oil at home has been, and will continue to be, a key part of my energy strategy.Under my Administration, we’re producing more oil than at any other time in the last eight years.We’ve quadrupled the number of operating oil rigs to a record high.And we’ve added enough oil and gas pipeline to circle the entire Earth and then some.Those are the facts.But as I’ve been saying all week, even though America uses around 20 percent of the world’s oil, we only have around 2 percent of the world’s known oil reserves.So even if we drilled everywhere, we’d still be relying on other countries for oil.That’s why we’re pursuing an all-of-the-above strategy.We’re producing more biofuels.More fuel-efficient cars.More solar power.More wind power.This week, I was in Boulder City, Nevada, where they’ve got the largest solar plant of its kind anywhere in the country.That’s the future.I was at Ohio State University, where they’ve developed the fastest electric car in the world.That’s the future.I don’t want to cede these clean energy industries to China or Germany or any other country.I want to see solar panels and wind turbines and fuel-efficient cars manufactured right here in America, by American workers.Now, getting these clean energy industries to locate here requires us to maintain a national commitment to new research and development.But it also requires us to build world-class transportation and communications networks, so that any company can move goods and sell products all around the world as quickly and efficiently as possible.So much of America needs to be rebuilt right now.We’ve got crumbling roads and bridges.A power grid that wastes too much energy.An incomplete high-speed broadband network.And we’ve got thousands of unemployed construction workers who’ve been looking for a job ever since the housing market collapsed.But once again, we’re waiting on Congress.You see, in a matter of days, funding will stop for all sorts of transportation projects.Construction sites will go idle.Workers will have to go home.And our economy will take a hit.This Congress cannot let that happen.Not at a time when we should be doing everything in our power – Democrats and Republicans – to keep this recovery moving forward.The Senate did their part.They passed a bipartisan transportation bill.It had the support of 52 Democrats and 22 Republicans.Now it’s up to the House to follow suit;to put aside partisan posturing, end the gridlock, and do what’s right for the American people.This is common sense.Right now, all across this country, we’ve got contractors and construction workers who have never been more eager to get back on the job.A long term transportation bill would put them to work.And those are good jobs.We just released a report that shows nearly 90 percent of the construction, manufacturing and trade jobs created through investments in transportation projects are middle class jobs.Those are exactly the jobs we need right now, and they’ll make the economy stronger for everybody.We’ve done this before.During the Great Depression, America built the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge.After World War II, we connected our states with a system of highways.Democratic and Republican administrations invested in great projects that benefited everybody, from the workers who built them to the businesses that still use them today.So tell Congress that if we invest in new technology and new energy;in new roads and bridges and construction projects, we can keep growing our economy, put our people back to work, and remind the world why the United States is the greatest nation on Earth.Thanks and have a great weekend.

第三篇：奥巴马每周电台演讲

奥巴马每周电台演讲附视频： Pushing Forward on Jobs

Following the best jobs numbers since 2007, the President recognizes that such trends are cold comfort to those who are struggling and pledges to continue pushing forward towards positive job growth.President Obama looks back at the Jobs Forum he hosted days before and looks ahead to further action.He emphatically restates why he ran for President in the first place: “to fight for a country where responsibility is still rewarded, and hard-working people can get ahead.” 在2007年以来最好的就业数据发布后，总统认识到这样的趋势对于那些正在挣扎中的人们并无实际意义，并保证继续推进就业积极增长。奥巴马总统回顾了前期他所主持的就业论坛，并展望了进一步的行动。他着重强调了他起初为什么要竞选总统：“为一个责任仍然是奖赏，努力工作的人能获得成功的国家而奋斗”。

Every month since January, when I became your President, I’ve spoken to you about the periodic reports of the Labor Department on the number of jobs created or lost during the previous month;numbers that tell a story about how America’s economy is faring overall.从1月份我成为你们总统以来的每个月，我都会向你们谈起劳工部关于上个月创造或失去的就业数据的定期报告，数据讲述了美国经济总体进展情况如何。

In those first months, the numbers were nothing short of devastating.The worst recession since the 1930s had wreaked havoc on the lives of so many of our fellow Americans.Yesterday, the numbers released by the Labor Department reflected a continuing positive trend of diminishing job loss.在那些最初的月份里，数据简直就是灾难。自1930年代以来最严重的衰退对我们那么多的美国人的生活造成严重破坏。昨天，劳工部披露的数据反映了一个持续的就业丧失缩小的积极趋势。

But for those who were laid off last month and the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs in this recession, a good trend isn’t good enough.Trends don’t buy the groceries.Trends don’t pay the rent or a college tuition.Trends don’t fulfill the need within each of us to be productive, to provide for our families, to make the most of our lives, to reach for our dreams.但是对于那些上个月被解雇的人和上百万在这次衰退中失业的美国人来说，一个好的趋势是不够的。趋势不能买生活用品，趋势不能付租金和大学学费。趋势不能被制造，提供给我们的家庭，为我们的生活所利用，实现我们的梦想，以满足我们每个人的需要。

So, it is true that we, as a country, are in a very different place than we were when 2009 began.Because of the Recovery Act and a number of other steps we’ve taken, we’re no longer facing the potential collapse of our financial system or a second Great Depression.We’re no longer losing jobs at a rate of 700,000 a month.And our economy’s growing for the first time in a year.因此，我们作为一个国家，与2009年年初相比确实处在一个非常不同的境地。因为复苏行动和我们采取的若干措施，我们不再面对可能崩溃的金融体系或是第二次巨大衰退。我们不再每月失去70万个就业岗位。我们的经济在一年来首次增长。

But too many of our neighbors are still out of work because the growth we’ve seen hasn’t yet translated into all the jobs we need.Stung by this brutal recession, businesses that have kept their doors open are still wary about adding workers.Instead of hiring, many are simply asking their employees to work more hours, or they’re adding temporary help.很遗憾我们的邻居仍然处于失业状态，因为我们所看见的增长还没有转化为我们需要的就业。被这次残酷的衰退所刺痛，仍然营业的企业对增加工人仍然谨慎。许多企业只是简单地要求他们的雇员加班，或是增加临时用工，以替代招聘。

History tells us this is usually what happens with recessions – even as the economy grows, it takes time for jobs to follow.But the folks who have been looking for work without any luck for months and, in some cases, years, can’t wait any longer.For them, I’m determined to do everything I can to accelerate our progress so we’re actually adding jobs again.历史告诉我们这是衰退时经常发生的——甚至当经济增长了，就业的同步需要时间。但是一直在寻找工作的人们已经几个月，甚至几年没有好运气了，（他们）再也不能等了。为了他们，我决定尽我所能加快我们的进程，以再一次实际增加就业。

That’s why, this week, I invited a group of business owners from across the country to the White House to talk about additional steps we can take to help jumpstart hiring.We brought together unions and universities to talk about what we can do to support our workers today and prepare our students to outcompete workers around the world tomorrow.We brought together mayors and community leaders to talk about how we can open up new opportunities in our cities and towns.这就是为什么本周我邀请一批企业主从全国到白宫来讨论我们能采取的附加措施以帮助企业雇工。我们把工会和大学召集到一起来讨论我们能做什么以在今天支持我们的工人，并让我们的学生在准备明天超越全世界的工人。我们把市长和社区工作者召集到一起讨论我们如何在我们的城市和乡镇开发新的机会。

On Friday, I spent the day in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and met with workers and small business owners there.I stopped by a steel company called Allentown Metal Works, and spoke at Lehigh Community College.I visited folks at a job placement center, and stopped by a shift change at Alpo.The stories and concerns I heard mirrored the countless letters I receive every single day.And they speak louder than any statistic or government report.The folks in Allentown – and in all the Allentowns across our country – are the most dedicated, productive workers in the world.All they’re asking for is a chance, and a fair shake.星期五，我在宾夕法尼亚的艾伦镇度过，并在遇到了工人和小商业主。我顺便访问了名叫艾伦镇金属厂的一家钢铁公司，并在勒海社区大学演讲。我访问了在一个就业安置中心的人们，并顺便访问了在Alpo的一家移动兑换店。在商店和中心我听到了无数我每个单日都能收到的信息。我们比任何统计数据和政府报告都说的大声。艾伦镇上的人们——和遍布我们国家所有艾伦镇上的——是世界上最具有奉献精神的产业工人。他们所要求，就是一个机会，和一个公平交易。

And that’s exactly what I’m working to give them.In the coming days, I’ll be unveiling additional ideas aimed at accelerating job growth and hiring as we emerge from this economic storm.而那正是我努力工作要给他们的。在接下来的日子里，随着我们逐渐摆脱这次经济风暴，我将要针对加快就业增长和雇佣抛出更多的想法。

And so that we don’t face another crisis like this again, I’m determined to meet our responsibility to do what we know will strengthen our economy in the long-run.That’s why I’m not going to let up in my efforts to reform our health care system;to give our children the best education in the world;to promote the jobs of tomorrow and energy independence by investing in a clean energy economy;and to deal with the mounting federal debt.因为我们不想再次面临另一场象这次的危机，我决定履行责任，长期增强我们的经济。这就是我为什么不会放松努力的原因，以改革我们的健康保障系统，给我们的孩子世界上最好的教育，推进未来的就业，并且投资清洁能源经济获得能源独立，应对逐渐增加的联邦债务。

From the moment I was sworn into office, we have taken a number of difficult steps to end this economic crisis.We didn’t take them because they were popular or gratifying.They weren’t.We took these steps because they were necessary.从我在办公室里发誓开始，我们采取了一些具有难度的措施以结束这场经济危机。我们不是因为它们流行或是受人欢迎而采取，它们不是的。我们采取这些措施是因为他们是必须的。

But I didn’t run for President to pass emergency recovery programs, or to bail out banks or to shore up auto companies.I didn’t run for President simply to manage the crisis of the moment, while kicking our most pressing problems down the road.I ran for President to help hardworking families succeed and to stand up for the embattled middle class.I ran to fight for a country where responsibility is still rewarded, and hard-working people can get ahead.I ran to keep faith with the sacred American principle that we will deliver to our children a future of even greater possibility.但我不是为了经历经济恢复程序而竞选总统的，也不是为了使银行脱困或是支持汽车公司。我不是简单地为了应对那次场危机而竞选总统的，而把我们最关切的问题踢的更远。我竞选总统是为了帮助努力工作的家庭获得成功，支持处于困境的中产阶级。我是为了在一个国家里责任仍然是一种奖赏，努力工作能获得成功而奋斗。我忠诚于神圣的美国人的原则，那就是我们交给下一代的未来有更大的可能性。

And my commitment to you, the American people, is that I will focus every single day on how we can get people back to work, and how we can build an economy that continues to make real the promise of America for generations to come.美国人民，我对你们的承诺是，我将在每一个单日里对我们如何让人们回到工作岗位保持关注，以及我们如何建立一个让美国人世代相传的承诺成真的经济。

第四篇：奥巴马每周电台演讲

And everyone who already has health insurance, whether through your employer, Medicare, or Medicaid, will keep the benefits and protections this law has already put in place.Three million more young adults have health insurance on their parents’ plans because of the Affordable Care Act.More than six million people on Medicare have saved an average of $1, 000 on their prescription medicine because of the Affordable Care Act.每个已经有医保的人，不管你是通过雇主、医保还是医疗救助获得的，将继续享受这个法案已经提供的福利和保障。因为可承受的医保，将有三百多万年轻的成人通过父母的险种获得医保。因为可承受的医保，有六百多万享受医保的人们在处方药上平均节约1,000美元。

Last year, more than 8 million Americans received half a billion dollars in refunds from their insurers because of the Affordable Care Act.And for tens of millions of women, preventive care like mammograms and birth control are free because of the Affordable Care Act.去年，因为可承受的医保，八百多万人获得了保险人五十万美元的返款。因为可承受的医保法案，成千上万的妇女们将获得诸如妈咪项目和计划生育之类的免费预防性医保。That’s all part of this law, and it’s here to stay.在就是这个法案的全部，就在眼前。

We did not fight so hard for this reform for so many years just to build a website.We did it to free millions of American families from the awful fear that one illness or injury –to yourself or your child –might cost you everything you’d worked so hard to build.We did it to cement the principle that in this country, the security of health care is not a privilege for a fortunate few, but a right for every one of us to enjoy.We have already delivered on part of that promise, and we will not rest until the work is done.我们如此艰苦卓绝地为了这个改革奋斗这么多年不仅仅是要建立一个网站。我们做这些是为了让成千上万的美国家庭摆脱一旦你或你的孩子受伤或生病就倾家荡产的恐惧。我们做这些是为了完善我们的原则--在我们国家，医保不是少数人的特权，而是每个人都享有的权利。我们已经部分地兑现了我们的承诺，我们要继续努力直到全部完成这个大业。Thank you, and have a great weekend.谢谢，周末愉快。

  

n.覆盖，覆盖范围 premium['pri:miəm]video

n.保险费，额外费用；奖金

navigator['næviɡeitə]video

n.航海家；领航员；驾驶员

coverage['kʌvəridʒ]video



还，偿还额 refund[ri'fʌnd]video

vi.退还；偿还，归还vt.退还；偿还；付还n.退款；偿 

剂 privilege['privilidʒ]video

n.特权；优待；基本权利vt.给与…特权；特免

cement[si'ment]video

vt.巩固，加强；用水泥涂；接合vi.粘牢n.水泥；接合 enroll[in'rəul]video vt.登记；使加入；把...记入名册；使入伍vi.参加；登记；注册；记入名册

 

n.保险公司；承保人 obsess[ɔb'ses]video

vt.迷住，缠住；使…着迷；使…困扰

insurer[in'ʃuərə]video

 prof[prɔf]video

n.教授（等于professor）

13.I wishI’dtakenmorerisks 我希望我多冒险

Everyonehastheirownideaofwhat’srisky, but youknowwhenyou’relivingtoomuch in yourcomfortzone.In hindsight, some people feel they missed out on a lot of adventure life has to offer.每个人对何为风险都有着自己的看法，但是你会发现自己在舒适区里过得太久了。赫然回想，有些人会感觉到他们错过了许多眼前冒险刺激的生活。14.I wish I’d had more time 我希望我有更多的时间

Many people say time speeds up as we age.The six weeks of summer holidays we had as kids certainly seemed to last a lifetime.If time speeds up, then it’s even more important to make the most of every moment.许多人说，时间如逝岁月如梭，把我们给催老了。六周的暑假时光对于儿时的我们貌似是过了一生之久。若感觉时光飞速逝去的话，那么，把每个时刻都最大程度地得以利用才更重要。15.I wish I hadn’t worried so much 我希望我不那么担心焦虑

If you’ve ever kept a diary and looked back, you’ll probably wonder why you ever got so worked up over X.如果你曾记日记，回过头来看看，很可能你想知道为什么你要为X卖命般地工作。16.I wish I’d appreciated ___ more 我希望我更加感激___ The consequences of taking people for granted are always hard to deal with.把别人对你的好当做理所当然，后果总是让人很棘手。17.I wish I’d spent more time with my family 我希望我陪伴家人的时间多一些

Some people get caught up with work, move to other parts of the world, grow old with grudges against family members only to realise their priorities were in the wrong place.有些人忙于工作，有些人搬到世界上别的地方居住，有些人带着对家庭成员愤恨过到老，最后只会发现自己把重点放错了地方。

18.I wish I hadn’t taken myself so seriously 我希望我活得不那么较真

Life is just more fun when you can laugh at yourself.当我们能坦然嘲笑自己时，生活似乎有更多乐趣。19.I wish I’d done more for other people.我希望我为别人多做一些事情

Doing things for others just makes life more meaningful.为了自己的生活更加有意义多为别人做一些事情。20.I wish I could have felt more happy.我希望我能感受到更加幸福快乐。

The realisation that happiness is a state of mind that you can control sometimes doesn’t occur to people until it’s too late.实现幸福是一种思想状态而已，有时，人们来不及去控制幸福的降临。

爱思英语编者按：一些中文意思很常用到但比较陌生的形容词。每天记5个单词，坚持一段时间就能告别词汇缺乏的困境。

peculiar 特殊的；独特的；奇怪的；罕见的 colossal 巨大的；异常的，非常的 bewildered 困惑的；眩 intense 强烈的；紧张的；非常的；热情的 fanciful 想像的；稀奇的

scrumptious 美味的；绝妙的，极好的 inspired 有灵感的；官方授意的

fluffy 蓬松的；松软的；毛茸茸的；无内容的 selective 选择性的

blurry 模糊的；污脏的；不清楚的

heroic 英雄的；英勇的；记叙英雄及其事迹的；夸张的 gooey 胶粘的；感伤的 witty 诙谐的；富于机智的

brilliant 灿烂的，闪耀的；杰出的；有才气的；精彩的，绝妙的 zealous 热心的，热情的，积极的 courageous 有胆量的，勇敢的

dynamic 动态的；动力的；动力学的；有活力的 valiant 英勇的，勇敢的

rambunctious 难控制的；喧闹的；粗暴的；骚乱的 daring 大胆的，勇敢的

opulent 丰富的；富裕的；大量的

sour 酸的；发酵的；刺耳的；酸臭的；讨厌的 vivacious 活泼的；快活的；有生气的 murky 黑暗的；朦胧的；阴郁的

quaint 古雅的；奇怪的；离奇有趣的；做得很精巧的 stupendous 惊人的；巨大的

sparkling 闪闪发光的，闪烁的；起泡沫的 zany 滑稽的；古怪的；愚蠢的 ferocious 残忍的；惊人的 determined 决定了的；坚决的

dubious 可疑的；暧昧的；无把握的；半信半疑的 energetic 精力充沛的；积极的；有力的 remarkable 卓越的；非凡的；值得注意的

wistful 渴望的；沉思的，默想的；引起怀念的；不满足似的 exuberant 繁茂的；生气勃勃的，充溢的

bold 大胆的，英勇的；黑体的；厚颜无耻的；险峻的 inquisitive 好奇的；好问的，爱打听的 mysterious 神秘的；不可思议的；难解的 ecstatic 狂喜的；入迷的 frigid 寒冷的，严寒的；冷淡的 The Road Ahead for China's Reforms 中国改革的未来之路

China's Third Plenary party meeting has just unveiled a sweeping reform agenda for the next decade.Despite several crucial gaps, overall the new agenda is robust and substantive, marking the most ambitious reform program in two decades.In terms of long-term significance, this pivotal meeting is perhaps surpassed only by the historic third plenum in 1978, when Deng Xiaoping dramatically changed the course of China by embarking on market reforms and opening up to the outside world.国三中全会刚刚公布了未来10年的全面改革方案。尽管缺少一些关键领域的改革，但总的来看，这是一个强有力的实质性方案，是20年来最雄心勃勃的改革方案。从长远意义看，这次关键会议可能仅次于历史上著名的1978年三中全会，当时邓小平通过开启改革开放使中国的发展道路发生巨变。

Yet despite stunning successes to date, China's transition to a free market economy is far from complete.While the private sector has expanded, state and state-owned enterprises continue to occupy the commanding heights of the economy.Excessive regulations stifle innovation.Because of serious structural imbalances and institutional deficiencies, pessimists predict that China will be stuck in the 'middle income trap' with unstable and potentially explosive social and political consequences at home and abroad.然而尽管迄今取得了辉煌的成就，中国远未完成向自由市场经济的转变。尽管私营领域有所扩张，但国家和国有企业依然占据着中国经济的制高点。过度监管抑制了创新。由于存在严重的结构性失衡问题和制度缺陷，悲观者预计，中国将陷入“中等收入陷阱”，将在国内外产生不稳定的、有可能是爆炸性的社会和政治影响。

The future of China and, to some extent, of the world, thus depends on her efforts to deepen economic reforms.There is too much at stake.That is why it is so encouraging that China's leadership has reaffirmed its strong commitment to reforms.The Party has publicly pledged as many as 60 specific policy and institutional reforms.If implemented, they could transform China into a dynamic modern market economy with rule of law, open competition and entrepreneurship.因此中国的未来以及（从一定程度上来说）全球的未来取决于中国深化经济改革的努力。目前的风险太多。这正是中国领导层重申对改革的强有力的承诺为何如此鼓舞人心的原因。中共已公开承诺多达60项政策和制度改革。如果获得实施，它们可以将中国转变为一个法制健全、公开竞争、鼓励企业家精神的具有活力的现代市场经济体。

Yet without courage and perseverance, difficult reforms cannot be sustained.In the years prior to President Xi Jinping's ascendency to the helm, the Party has disappointed the public by under-delivering many reform promises.There are three main reasons why Mr.Xi must seize the current momentum and follow through with bold actions.然而如果缺乏胆量和坚持不懈的精神，艰难的改革可能就无法持续实施。在习近平上任前的几年，中共由于未能兑现许多改革承诺而令公众感到失望。习近平为何必须抓住当前的势头，通过大胆行动来将改革坚持到底，有三个原因。First, reforms are essential to the realization of the 'Chinese Dream.' President Xi has articulated a highly attractive vision for China: namely, to double national income by 2020 and to transform the country into a modern, high income, civilized, and democratic nation by 2050, when the People's Republic celebrates its Centennial.Just as Deng's vision of modernization marshaled China's energy and resources for economic development, Xi's 'Chinese Dream' is a brilliant construct that can rally and reenergize both the Party and people to embark on a shared mission.首先，要想实现“中国梦”，必须改革。习近平已经明确了一个极具吸引力的中国梦：到2020年实现国民收入翻一番，并且到2050年中国庆祝建国一百周年时将中国建设成为一个富强、民主、文明、和谐的社会主义现代化国家。就像邓小平对实现现代化的高瞻远瞩集结了中国的能源和资源推动经济发展一样，习近平的“中国梦”是一个智慧的构想，能够团结和重新激发共产党和中国人民来着手完成一个共同的使命。

If Deng is remembered as the great architect of reforms that set in motion China's modernization, Xi's legacy will likely be judged by his ability to complete unfinished reforms and his decisive role in leading China to economic and cultural greatness.However, overly intrusive and often corrupt bureaucracy, inefficient state-owned enterprises, and the absence of a level playing field for private enterprises and a massive rural population hobble China's continuing progress.If the 'Chinese Dream' is to be more than just a pipe dream, President Xi must pursue serious reforms that unleash China's vast potential.如果说邓小平作为启动中国现代化进程的改革的伟大设计师而被人们所铭记，那么对习近平遗产的评判将可能取决于他完成未尽改革的能力以及在领导中国走向经济和文化辉煌中所发挥的决定性作用。不过，中国的官僚体系对经济干预过度，腐败猖獗，国有企业效率低，私营企业缺乏公平的竞争环境，农村人口众多，这些问题都阻碍了中国的持续发展。要想让“中国梦”不止是白日梦，习近平就必须寻求完成切实的改革，释放中国的巨大潜力。

Second, there are numerous pressing challenges immediately facing the country.Most of these challenges cannot be effectively addressed with quick fixes or fiscal and monetary stimuli.China's traditional growth engine, long powered by exports and government-led investment spending, is clearly losing steam.There has been a colossal misallocation of capital and acute economic imbalances.Widening urban-rural disparities and increasing social tensions persist.The broad structural reforms outlined in the Party's new blueprint could fend off these mounting pressures to ensure long-term social stability.其次，中国面临着各种迫在眉睫的挑战。其中大部分挑战无法用权宜之计或财政及货币刺激措施有效地加以解决。一直以来，中国的传统增长引擎是出口和政府主导的投资支出，目前正明显失去后劲。此外，还有大量资本配置不当及经济严重失衡的问题。不断扩大的城乡收入差距和日益加剧的社会紧张状态仍在持续。三中全会制定的蓝图中列出的广泛结构改革有望缓解这些不断积聚的压力，以保证社会的长治久安。Finally, strong reforms are the only means to meet the rising expectation of the Chinese people.China's current growth model has led to the greatest reduction of poverty in human history.Yet at least 100 million Chinese, predominantly rural citizens, continue to live in poverty.At the same time, China's newly affluent middle class who are well-traveled, internet-savvy and independent-minded demand continuous improvements in quality of life.This includes cleaner air and water, safer food, less corruption and improved public services.最后，强有力的改革是满足中国人不断上升的期望的唯一途径。中国目前的增长模式引发了人类历史上最大规模的减贫。然而，至少有1亿中国人（其中主要为农村居民）仍生活在贫困中。与此同时，中国刚刚富裕起来的中产阶级热衷旅游、精通互联网而且思想独立，他们要求生活质量得到持续的改善。这包括更清洁的空气和水、更安全的食品、更少的腐败和更好的公共服务。Chinese entrepreneurs yearn for less state interference, greater economic freedom, fairer competition and more effective protection of property rights.The exodus of wealthy and successful Chinese emigrating overseas in recent years is an alarming trend that underscores social dissatisfaction.President Xi can restore public confidence through vigorous reforms.中国企业家渴望政府减少干预，渴望有更大的经济自由、更公平的竞争环境和更有效的知识产权保护措施。近年来，中国的富人和成功者纷纷移民海外，这种趋势值得警惕，因为它凸显出社会中的不满情绪。习近平可通过强有力的改革重振公众的信心。

It is therefore reassuring that Chinese leaders have wisely embraced far-reaching structural reforms.With a blockbuster game plan in place, it is now all about execution.Delays or half measures would dismay China's poor, entrepreneurs and middle-class consumers while bolstering the case of China bears and naysayers both within and outside China.President Xi's credibility, the Party's legitimacy and China's future are all on the line.With Xi's decisive leadership, hopefully China can succeed.因此中国领导人明智地欣然同意推出将带来深远影响的结构改革，这令人感到安慰。有了宏大的计划，现在最重要的就是执行了。若计划迟迟未执行或执行得不到位，将会令中国的穷人、企业家和中产阶级消费者失望，同时给国内外看空和怀疑中国的人提供口实。习近平的威信、中共的遗产和中国的未来皆系于此。凭借习近平果断的领导力，希望中国能够成功。

Mr.Hu is chairman of Primavera Capital Group, a China-based investment and research firm.（编者按：胡祖六(Fred Hu)是位于中国的投资与研究公司春华资本集团(Primavera Capital Group)的董事长。

          sector['sektə]video

n.部门；扇形，扇区；象限仪；函数尺vt.把…分成扇形 institutional[,insti'tju:ʃənəl]video adj.制度的；制度上的；学会的 fiscal[fiskəl]video

adj.会计的，财政的；国库的 consumer[kən'sju:mə]video n.消费者；用户，顾客

dramatically[drə'mætikəli]video adv.戏剧地；引人注目地 marshal['mɑ:ʃəl]video

n.元帅；司仪vt.整理；引领；编列vi.排列 continuous[kən'tinjuəs]video

adj.连续的，持续的；继续的；连绵不断的 commitment[kə'mitmənt]video n.承诺，保证；委托；承担义务；献身 momentum[məu'mentəm]video n.势头；[物] 动量；动力；冲力 ambitious[æm'biʃəs]video

adj.野心勃勃的；有雄心的；热望的；炫耀的

第五篇：奥巴马电台演讲2011-2012

11.Extending the Payroll Tax Cut for the Middle Class Saturday, February 11, 2012

Hello, everybody.In recent weeks, we’ve seen signs that our economy is growing stronger and creating jobs at a faster clip.While numbers and figures will go up and down in the coming months, what cannot waver is our resolve to do everything in our power to keep stoking the fires of the recovery.And the last thing we should do is let Washington stand in the way.You see, at the end of the month, taxes are set to go up on 160 million working Americans.If you’re one of them, then you know better than anyone that the last thing you need right now is a tax hike.But if Congress refuses to act, middle class taxes will go up.It’s that simple.Now, if this sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve been here before.Back in December, Congress faced this exact same predicament.Ultimately, thanks to your voices, they did the right thing – but only after a great deal of bickering and political posturing that put the strength of our economy and the security of middle class families at risk.We can’t go through that again.Congress needs to stop this middle class tax hike from happening.Period.No drama.No delay.And no ideological side issues that have nothing to do with this tax cut.Now is not the time for self-inflicted wounds to our recovery.Now is the time for common-sense action.And this tax cut is common-sense.If you’re a family making about $50,000 a year, this tax cut amounts to about $1,000 a year.That’s about $40 in every paycheck.I know there are some folks in this town who think $40 isn’t a lot of money.But to a student or a senior who’s trying to stretch the budget a little bit further? To a parent who’s filling up the tank and looking at rising gas prices? To them, $40 can make all the difference in the world.And so can your voice.I hope you’ll pick up the phone, send a tweet, write an email, and tell your representative that they should get this done before it gets too late.Tell them not to play politics again by linking this debate to unrelated issues.Tell them not to manufacture another needless standoff or crisis.Tell them not to stand in the way of the recovery.Tell them to just do their job.That’s what our middle class needs.That’s what our country needs.In the wake of the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes, we’re getting things going again.And we’re going to keep at it until everyone shares in America’s comeback.Thanks, and have a great weekend.12.It’s Time for Congress to Act to Help Responsible Homeowners Saturday, February 4, 2012 Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been traveling around the country and talking with folks about my blueprint for an economy built to last.It’s a blueprint that focuses on restoring the things we’ve always done best.Our strengths.American manufacturing.American energy.The skills and education of American workers.And most importantly, American values like fairness and responsibility.We know what happened when we strayed from those values over the past decade – especially when it comes to our housing market.Lenders sold loans to families who couldn’t afford them.Banks packaged those mortgages up and traded them for phony profits.It drove up prices and created an unsustainable bubble that burst – and left millions of families who did everything right in a world of hurt.It was wrong.The housing crisis has been the single biggest drag on our recovery from the recession.It has kept millions of families in debt and unable to spend, and it has left hundreds of thousands of construction workers out of a job.But there’s something even more important at stake.I’ve been saying this is a make-or-break moment for the middle class.And the housing crisis struck right at the heart of what it means to be middle-class in this country: owning a home.Raising our kids.Building our dreams.Right now, there are more than 10 million homeowners in this country who, because of a decline in home prices that is no fault of their own, owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth.Now, it is wrong for anyone to suggest that the only option for struggling, responsible homeowners is to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom.I don’t accept that.None of us should.That’s why we launched a plan a couple years ago that’s helped nearly one million responsible homeowners refinance their mortgages and save an average of $300 on their payments each month.Now, I’ll be the first to admit it didn’t help as many folks as we’d hoped.But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep trying.That’s why I’m sending Congress a plan that will give every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3,000 a year on their mortgages by refinancing at historically low rates.No more red tape.No more endless forms.And a small fee on the largest financial institutions will make sure it doesn’t add a dime to the deficit.I want to be clear: this plan will not help folks who bought a house they couldn’t afford and then walked away from it.It won’t help folks who bought multiple houses just to turn around and sell them.What this plan will do is help millions of responsible homeowners who make their payments every month, but who, until now, couldn’t refinance because their home values kept dropping or they got wrapped up in too much red tape.But here’s the catch.In order to lower mortgage payments for millions of Americans, we need Congress to act.They’re the ones who have to pass this plan.And as anyone who has followed the news in the last six months can tell you, getting Congress to do anything these days is not an easy job.That’s why I’m going to keep up the pressure on Congress to do the right thing.But I also need your help.I need your voice.I need everyone who agrees with this plan to get on the phone, send an email, tweet, pay a visit, and remind your representatives in Washington who they work for.Tell them to pass this plan.Tell them to help more families keep their homes, and more neighborhoods stay vibrant and whole.The truth is, it will take time for our housing market to recover.It will take time for our economy to fully bounce back.But there are steps we can take, right now, to move this country forward.That’s what I promise to do as your President, and I hope Members of Congress will join me.Thank you, and have a great weekend.13.Creating Jobs by Boosting Tourism Saturday, January 21, 2012

Hello, everybody.On Thursday, I went down to Florida to visit Disneyworld.To Sasha and Malia’s great disappointment, I was not there to hang out with Mickey or ride Space Mountain.Instead, I was there to talk about steps we’re taking to boost tourism and create jobs.Tourism is the number one service we export.Every year, tens of millions of tourists come from all over the world to visit America.They stay in our hotels, eat at our restaurants, and see all the sights America has to offer.That’s good for local businesses.That’s good for local economies.And the more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work.It’s that simple.We can’t wait to seize this opportunity.As I’ve said before, I will continue to work with Congress, states, and leaders in the private sector to find ways to move this country forward.But where they can’t act or won’t act, I will.Because we want the world to know that America is open for business.And that’s why I announced steps we’re taking to promote America and make it easier for tourists to come and visit.Frequent travelers who pass an extensive background check will be able to scan their passports and fingerprints and skip long lines at immigration at more airports.We’re going to expand the number of countries where visitors can get pre-cleared by Homeland Security so they don’t need a tourist visa.And we’re going to speed up visa processing for countries with growing middle classes that can afford to visit America – countries like China and Brazil.We want more visitors coming here.We want them spending money here.It’s good for our economy, and it will help provide the boost more businesses need to grow and hire.And we can’t wait to make it happen.Too often over the last few months, we’ve seen Congress drag its feet and refuse to take steps we know will help strengthen our economy.That’s why this is the latest in a series of actions I’ve taken on my own to help our economy keep growing, creating jobs, and restoring security for middle-class families.In September, we decided to stop waiting for Congress to fix No Child Left Behind and give states the flexibility they need to help our kids meet higher standards.We made sure that small businesses that have contracts with the Federal Government can get paid faster so they can start hiring more people.We made it easier for veterans to get jobs and put their skills to work.We took steps to help families whose home values have fallen refinance their mortgages and save up to thousands of dollars a year.We sped up the loan process for companies that want to rebuild our roads and bridges – putting construction workers back on the job.And I appointed Richard Cordray to be America’s consumer watchdog and protect working Americans from the worst abuses of the financial industry.These are good steps.Now we need to do more.On Tuesday evening, I’ll deliver my State of the Union Address, where I’ll lay out my blueprint for actions we need to take together – not just me, or Congress, but every American – to rebuild an economy where hard work and responsibility are rewarded.An economy that’s built to last.I hope you’ll tune in.In the meantime, I’m going to keep doing everything I can to make this country not only the best place to visit and do business – but the best place to live and work and build a better life.Thanks for watching.Have a great weekend.And I’ll see you on Tuesday 14.Helping American Businesses Succeed As you can see, I brought a few things with me for this week’s video.A padlock.A pair of boots.A candle.And a pair of socks.No, we’re not having a yard sale.And these products may not appear to have much in common.But they’re united by three proud words: “Made in America.” They’re manufactured by American workers, in American factories, and shipped to customers here and around the world.The companies that make these products are part of a hopeful trend: they’re bringing jobs back from overseas.You’ve heard of outsourcing – well, this is insourcing.And in this make or break moment for the middle class and those working to get into the middle class, that’s exactly the kind of commitment to country that we need.This week, I invited executives from businesses that are insourcing jobs to a forum at the White House.These are CEOs who take pride in hiring people here in America, not just because it’s increasingly the right thing to do for their bottom line, but also because it’s the right thing to do for their workers and for our communities and our country.I told those CEOs what I’ll tell any business leader: ask yourself what you can do to bring more jobs back to the country that made your success possible.And I’ll make sure you’ve got a government that does everything in its power to help you succeed.That’s why, in the next few weeks, I will put forward new tax proposals that reward companies that choose to do the right thing by bringing jobs home and investing in America – and eliminate tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas.It’s also why on Friday, I called on Congress to help me make government work better for you.Right now, we have a 21st century economy, but we’ve still got a government organized for the 20th century.Over the years, the needs of Americans have changed, but our government has not.In fact, it’s gotten even more complex.And that has to change.That’s why I asked Congress to reinstate the authority that past presidents have had to streamline and reform the Executive Branch.This is the same sort of authority that every business owner has to make sure that his or her company keeps pace with the times.It’s the same authority that presidents had for over 50 years – up until Ronald Reagan.And let me be clear: I will only use this authority for reforms that result in more efficiency, better service, and a leaner government.These changes will make it easier for small business owners to get the loans and support they need to sell their products around the world.For example, instead of forcing small business owners to navigate the six departments and agencies in the federal government that focus on business and trade, we’ll have one department.One place where entrepreneurs can go from the day they come up with an idea and need a patent, to the day they start building a warehouse, to the day they’re ready to ship their products overseas.And in the meantime, we’re creating a new website – BusinessUSA – that will serve as a one-stop shop with information for businesses small and large that want to start selling their stuff around the world.This means that more small business owners will see their hard work pay off.More companies will be able to hire new workers.And we’ll be able to rebuild an economy that’s not known for paper profits or financial speculation, but for making and selling products like these.Products “Made in America.”

Thank you, and have a great weekend

15.President’s Blueprint Includes Renewal of American Values Saturday, January 28, 2011

On Tuesday, in my State of the Union Address, I laid out a blueprint for an economy built to last – an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.This week, I took that blueprint across the country, and what I saw was people who work hard and believe in each other.They believe in the America that’s within our reach.But they’re not sure that the right thing will get done in Washington this year, or next year, or the year after that.And frankly, when you look at some of the things that go on in this town, who could blame them for being a little cynical? Just two days ago, a senator from Utah promised to obstruct every single American I appoint to a judgeship or public service position – unless I fire the consumer watchdog I put in place to protect the American people from financial schemes or malpractice.For the most part, it’s not that this senator thinks these nominees are unqualified.In fact, all of the judicial nominees being blocked have bipartisan support.And almost 90 percent have unanimous support from the Judiciary Committee.Instead, one of his aides told reporters that the senator plans to, and I’m quoting here, “Delay and slow the process in order to get the President’s attention.”

This isn’t about me.We weren’t sent here to wage perpetual political campaigns against each other.We were sent here to serve the American people.And they deserve better than gridlock and games.One senator gumming up the works for the whole country is certainly not what our founding fathers envisioned.The truth is, neither party has been blameless in tactics like these.But it’s time for both parties to put an end to them.I’m asking Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, to stop this kind of behavior by passing a rule that allows all judicial and public service nominations a simple up-or-down vote within 90 days.We should also stem the corrosive influence of money in politics.The House and Senate should send me a bill that bans insider trading by Members of Congress, and I will sign it immediately.They should limit any elected official from owning stocks in industries they impact.And they should make sure people who bundle campaign contributions for Congress can’t lobby Congress, and vice versa.During my Address on Tuesday night, I spoke about the incredible example set by the men and women of our armed forces.At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations.They’re not consumed with personal ambition.They don’t obsess over their differences.They focus on the mission at hand.They work together.If you agree with me that leaders in Washington should follow their example, then make your voice heard.Tell your Member of Congress that it’s time to end the gridlock, and start tackling the issues that really matter – an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, American skills and education, and a return to American values.An economy built to last.Thank you, God bless you, and have a great weekend