West Wing Week: 12/10/10 or "It's Alive!"
Uploaded by whitehouse on 09.12.2010
Transcript:
♪(Drum and bugle corps)♪
Narrator: Welcome to the "West Wing Week," your guide to
everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
After a surprise visit to Afghanistan, the President's
week focused on the economy, including his efforts to forge a
bipartisan compromise that stops middle class taxes
from going up, spurs private sector job growth,
and extends unemployment insurance for millions of Americans.
That's December 3rd to the 9th, or, "It's Alive!"
On Friday, December 3rd, President Obama visited
Afghanistan to personally thank our men and women in uniform for
their service, and to check in with the commander of
U.S. forces in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus,
to hear about conditions on the ground.
President Obama: As President of the United States, I have no greater
responsibility than keeping the American people secure.
I could not meet that responsibility, we could not
protect the American people, we could not enjoy the blessings of
our liberty without the extraordinary service that each
and every one of you perform each and every day.
Narrator: On Saturday, December 4th, after arriving home from Afghanistan,
the President crossed the street to the EEOB,
where he announced the successful negotiation of a
landmark free trade agreement with South Korea, a major step
toward creating jobs for American workers,
and standing up for the interests of American businesses.
President Obama: This deal is a win for American workers,
for our farmers and ranchers.
It will increase exports of American agricultural products
from aerospace to electronics.
It will increase our manufacturing exports to Korea,
which already support some 200,000 American jobs and
many small businesses.
Narrator: On Monday, December 6th, President Obama left
Washington for an unseasonably chilly Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
President Obama: I thought it was supposed to be warm down in North Carolina.
Narrator: The President visited Forsyth Technical Community College
and saw biotechnology classrooms where students of all ages
and backgrounds are retraining for jobs in the competitive
biotech industry.
Mr. Street: If you work in any kind of laboratory or do any kind
of research you're going to need some culture experience so
I figured I'm looking at getting maybe a master's or a Ph.D. later,
and that would be a good idea to have.
President Obama: This is a great place to start.
Mr. Street: Correct, sir.
Because it's skills that maybe I didn't see at a four-year college,
but it's very specific for the field I want to go into.
Narrator: After the tour, the President outlined his vision to keep our
economy strong, growing and competitive in the 21st century.
President Obama: Fifty years later our generation's
Sputnik moment is back.
If the recession has taught us anything, it's that we cannot
go back to an economy that's driven by too much spending.
We've got to rebuild on a new and stronger foundation for
economic growth.
We need to do what America has always been known for: Building,
innovating, educating, making things.
Narrator: On Tuesday, December 7th, President Obama
attended a series of meetings at the White House and also held a
news conference in the briefing room to answer questions about
balancing the Republican tax cuts for the top American
earners with unemployment benefits and middle class tax relief,
including the earned income tax credit, the child tax credit,
and the American opportunity tax credit,
which helps families pay for college.
President Obama: But in the meantime I'm not here to play games with
the American people or the health of our economy.
My job is to do whatever I can to get this economy moving.
My job is to do whatever I can to spur job creation.
My job is to look out for middle class families who are
struggling right now to get by, and Americans who are out of
work through no fault of their own.
Narrator: On Wednesday, December 8th, President Obama
met with President Komorowski of Poland.
They discussed issues of mutual concern, such as the new START Treaty,
missile defense, and the mission in Afghanistan.
President Obama: I indicated to him how important it was for U.S. senators
to hear from those who are Russia's neighbors,
that they feel it is very important to make sure that the
new START Treaty is ratified so that we can continue the
verification process that is so important in reducing risks
throughout that region.
Narrator: Later that day, the President held a cabinet meeting,
and then signed the Claims Resolution Act of 2010,
settling long neglected claims of African-American and native American farmers.
President Obama: I'm very proud of your advocacy, we're glad we got this done.
Obviously we had a lot of good friends in Congress who helped us out.
Mr. Boyd: Yes, we did.
President Obama: But if it hadn't been for you guys keeping on pushing on it,
it wouldn't have happened.
Narrator: On Thursday, December 9th, President Obama
met with his Export Council to discuss ways to promote a
strong, growing and competitive economy, including increasing
American exports to the rest of the world.
He also discussed the ongoing tax cut debate on Capitol Hill
that will ensure our economy moves forward.
President Obama: And growing our exports today will create
the jobs of tomorrow.
Ninety-five percent of the world's customers and the
fastest growing markets are beyond our borders.
If we want to find new growth streams for our economy we've
got to compete aggressively for those customers because other
nations are competing aggressively.
And as long as I'm President of the United States, we are going
to fight for every job, every industry, every market
everywhere, and we intend to win.
Narrator: That evening, President Obama was joined by the First Lady,
Sasha, and Malia on the Ellipse, where they lit
the national Christmas tree for the season.
Three, two, one.
(cheering)
President Obama: Now, this is a very proud holiday tradition,
snow or shine.
In good times and in periods of hardship, folks like you have
gathered with presidents to light our national tree.
Narrator: To find out more information on any of these
topics or to see complete videos of these events,
go to Whitehouse.gov, and thanks again for checking out your
West Wing Week.
President Obama: It's alive!
(laughter)
That's just a joke, guys.
Don't worry.
Narrator: Welcome to the "West Wing Week," your guide to
everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
After a surprise visit to Afghanistan, the President's
week focused on the economy, including his efforts to forge a
bipartisan compromise that stops middle class taxes
from going up, spurs private sector job growth,
and extends unemployment insurance for millions of Americans.
That's December 3rd to the 9th, or, "It's Alive!"
On Friday, December 3rd, President Obama visited
Afghanistan to personally thank our men and women in uniform for
their service, and to check in with the commander of
U.S. forces in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus,
to hear about conditions on the ground.
President Obama: As President of the United States, I have no greater
responsibility than keeping the American people secure.
I could not meet that responsibility, we could not
protect the American people, we could not enjoy the blessings of
our liberty without the extraordinary service that each
and every one of you perform each and every day.
Narrator: On Saturday, December 4th, after arriving home from Afghanistan,
the President crossed the street to the EEOB,
where he announced the successful negotiation of a
landmark free trade agreement with South Korea, a major step
toward creating jobs for American workers,
and standing up for the interests of American businesses.
President Obama: This deal is a win for American workers,
for our farmers and ranchers.
It will increase exports of American agricultural products
from aerospace to electronics.
It will increase our manufacturing exports to Korea,
which already support some 200,000 American jobs and
many small businesses.
Narrator: On Monday, December 6th, President Obama left
Washington for an unseasonably chilly Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
President Obama: I thought it was supposed to be warm down in North Carolina.
Narrator: The President visited Forsyth Technical Community College
and saw biotechnology classrooms where students of all ages
and backgrounds are retraining for jobs in the competitive
biotech industry.
Mr. Street: If you work in any kind of laboratory or do any kind
of research you're going to need some culture experience so
I figured I'm looking at getting maybe a master's or a Ph.D. later,
and that would be a good idea to have.
President Obama: This is a great place to start.
Mr. Street: Correct, sir.
Because it's skills that maybe I didn't see at a four-year college,
but it's very specific for the field I want to go into.
Narrator: After the tour, the President outlined his vision to keep our
economy strong, growing and competitive in the 21st century.
President Obama: Fifty years later our generation's
Sputnik moment is back.
If the recession has taught us anything, it's that we cannot
go back to an economy that's driven by too much spending.
We've got to rebuild on a new and stronger foundation for
economic growth.
We need to do what America has always been known for: Building,
innovating, educating, making things.
Narrator: On Tuesday, December 7th, President Obama
attended a series of meetings at the White House and also held a
news conference in the briefing room to answer questions about
balancing the Republican tax cuts for the top American
earners with unemployment benefits and middle class tax relief,
including the earned income tax credit, the child tax credit,
and the American opportunity tax credit,
which helps families pay for college.
President Obama: But in the meantime I'm not here to play games with
the American people or the health of our economy.
My job is to do whatever I can to get this economy moving.
My job is to do whatever I can to spur job creation.
My job is to look out for middle class families who are
struggling right now to get by, and Americans who are out of
work through no fault of their own.
Narrator: On Wednesday, December 8th, President Obama
met with President Komorowski of Poland.
They discussed issues of mutual concern, such as the new START Treaty,
missile defense, and the mission in Afghanistan.
President Obama: I indicated to him how important it was for U.S. senators
to hear from those who are Russia's neighbors,
that they feel it is very important to make sure that the
new START Treaty is ratified so that we can continue the
verification process that is so important in reducing risks
throughout that region.
Narrator: Later that day, the President held a cabinet meeting,
and then signed the Claims Resolution Act of 2010,
settling long neglected claims of African-American and native American farmers.
President Obama: I'm very proud of your advocacy, we're glad we got this done.
Obviously we had a lot of good friends in Congress who helped us out.
Mr. Boyd: Yes, we did.
President Obama: But if it hadn't been for you guys keeping on pushing on it,
it wouldn't have happened.
Narrator: On Thursday, December 9th, President Obama
met with his Export Council to discuss ways to promote a
strong, growing and competitive economy, including increasing
American exports to the rest of the world.
He also discussed the ongoing tax cut debate on Capitol Hill
that will ensure our economy moves forward.
President Obama: And growing our exports today will create
the jobs of tomorrow.
Ninety-five percent of the world's customers and the
fastest growing markets are beyond our borders.
If we want to find new growth streams for our economy we've
got to compete aggressively for those customers because other
nations are competing aggressively.
And as long as I'm President of the United States, we are going
to fight for every job, every industry, every market
everywhere, and we intend to win.
Narrator: That evening, President Obama was joined by the First Lady,
Sasha, and Malia on the Ellipse, where they lit
the national Christmas tree for the season.
Three, two, one.
(cheering)
President Obama: Now, this is a very proud holiday tradition,
snow or shine.
In good times and in periods of hardship, folks like you have
gathered with presidents to light our national tree.
Narrator: To find out more information on any of these
topics or to see complete videos of these events,
go to Whitehouse.gov, and thanks again for checking out your
West Wing Week.
President Obama: It's alive!
(laughter)
That's just a joke, guys.
Don't worry.