President Obama’s State of the Union Address — Remarks As Prepared for Delivery

President Obama’s State of the Union Address — Remarks As Prepared for Delivery

There is a ritual on State of the Union night in Washington. A little before the address, the White House sends out an embargoed copy of the President’s speech to the press (embargoed means that the press can see the speech, but they can’t report on it until a designated time). The reporters then start sending it around town to folks on Capitol Hill to get their reaction, then those people send it to all their friends, and eventually everyone in Washington can read along, but the public remains in the dark.
This year we change that.
For the first time, the White House is making the full text of the speech available to citizens around the country online. On Medium, you can follow along with the speech as you watch in real time, view charts and infographics on key areas, tweet favorite lines, and leave notes. By making the text available to the public in advance, the White House is continuing efforts to reach a wide online audience and give people a range of ways to consume the speech.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans:
We are fifteen years into this new century. Fifteen years that dawned with terror touching our shores; that unfolded with a new generation fighting two long and costly wars; that saw a vicious recession spread across our nation and the world. It has been, and still is, a hard time for many.
But tonight, we turn the page.
Tonight, after a breakthrough year for America, our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999. Our unemployment rate is now lower than it was before the financial crisis. More of our kids are graduating than ever before; more of our people are insured than ever before; we are as free from the grip of foreign oil as we’ve been in almost 30 years.
Tonight, for the first time since 9/11, our combat mission in Afghanistan is over. Six years ago, nearly 180,000 American troops served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, fewer than 15,000 remain. And we salute the courage and sacrifice of every man and woman in this 9/11 Generation who has served to keep us safe. We are humbled and grateful for your service.
America, for all that we’ve endured; for all the grit and hard work required to come back; for all the tasks that lie ahead, know this:
The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong.
At this moment — with a growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry, and booming energy production — we have risen from recession freer to write our own future than any other nation on Earth. It’s now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next fifteen years, and for decades to come.
Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?
Will we approach the world fearful and reactive, dragged into costly conflicts that strain our military and set back our standing? Or will we lead wisely, using all elements of our power to defeat new threats and protect our planet?
Will we allow ourselves to be sorted into factions and turned against one another — or will we recapture the sense of common purpose that has always propelled America forward?
In two weeks, I will send this Congress a budget filled with ideas that are practical, not partisan. And in the months ahead, I’ll crisscross the country making a case for those ideas.
So tonight, I want to focus less on a checklist of proposals, and focus more on the values at stake in the choices before us.
It begins with our economy.
Seven years ago, Rebekah and Ben Erler of Minneapolis were newlyweds. She waited tables. He worked construction. Their first child, Jack, was on the way.
They were young and in love in America, and it doesn’t get much better than that.
“If only we had known,” Rebekah wrote to me last spring, “what was about to happen to the housing and construction market.”
As the crisis worsened, Ben’s business dried up, so he took what jobs he could find, even if they kept him on the road for long stretches of time. Rebekah took out student loans, enrolled in community college, and retrained for a new career. They sacrificed for each other. And slowly, it paid off. They bought their first home. They had a second son, Henry. Rebekah got a better job, and then a raise. Ben is back in construction — and home for dinner every night.
“It is amazing,” Rebekah wrote, “what you can bounce back from when you have to…we are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.”
We are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.
America, Rebekah and Ben’s story is our story. They represent the millions who have worked hard, and scrimped, and sacrificed, and retooled. You are the reason I ran for this office. You’re the people I was thinking of six years ago today, in the darkest months of the crisis, when I stood on the steps of this Capitol and promised we would rebuild our economy on a new foundation. And it’s been your effort and resilience that has made it possible for our country to emerge stronger.
We believed we could reverse the tide of outsourcing, and draw new jobs to our shores. And over the past five years, our businesses have created more than 11 million new jobs.
We believed we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and protect our planet. And today, America is number one in oil and gas. America is number one in wind power. Every three weeks, we bring online as much solar power as we did in all of 2008. And thanks to lower gas prices and higher fuel standards, the typical family this year should save $750 at the pump.
We believed we could prepare our kids for a more competitive world. And today, our younger students have earned the highest math and reading scores on record. Our high school graduation rate has hit an all-time high. And more Americans finish college than ever before.
We believed that sensible regulations could prevent another crisis, shield families from ruin, and encourage fair competition. Today, we have new tools to stop taxpayer-funded bailouts, and a new consumer watchdog to protect us from predatory lending and abusive credit card practices. And in the past year alone, about ten million uninsured Americans finally gained the security of health coverage.
At every step, we were told our goals were misguided or too ambitious; that we would crush jobs and explode deficits. Instead, we’ve seen the fastest economic growth in over a decade, our deficits cut by two-thirds, a stock market that has doubled, and health care inflation at its lowest rate in fifty years.
So the verdict is clear. Middle-class economics works. Expanding opportunity works. And these policies will continue to work, as long as politics don’t get in the way. We can’t slow down businesses or put our economy at risk with government shutdowns or fiscal showdowns. We can’t put the security of families at risk by taking away their health insurance, or unraveling the new rules on Wall Street, or refighting past battles on immigration when we’ve got a system to fix. And if a bill comes to my desk that tries to do any of these things, it will earn my veto.
Today, thanks to a growing economy, the recovery is touching more and more lives. Wages are finally starting to rise again. We know that more small business owners plan to raise their employees’ pay than at any time since 2007. But here’s the thing — those of us here tonight, we need to set our sights higher than just making sure government doesn’t halt the progress we’re making. We need to do more than just do no harm. Tonight, together, let’s do more to restore the link between hard work and growing opportunity for every American.
Because families like Rebekah’s still need our help. She and Ben are working as hard as ever, but have to forego vacations and a new car so they can pay off student loans and save for retirement. Basic childcare for Jack and Henry costs more than their mortgage, and almost as much as a year at the University of Minnesota. Like millions of hardworking Americans, Rebekah isn’t asking for a handout, but she is asking that we look for more ways to help families get ahead.
In fact, at every moment of economic change throughout our history, this country has taken bold action to adapt to new circumstances, and to make sure everyone gets a fair shot. We set up worker protections, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to protect ourselves from the harshest adversity. We gave our citizens schools and colleges, infrastructure and the internet — tools they needed to go as far as their effort will take them.
That’s what middle-class economics is — the idea that this country does best when everyone gets their fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. We don’t just want everyone to share in America’s success — we want everyone to contribute to our success.
So what does middle-class economics require in our time?
First — middle-class economics means helping working families feel more secure in a world of constant change. That means helping folks afford childcare, college, health care, a home, retirement — and my budget will address each of these issues, lowering the taxes of working families and putting thousands of dollars back into their pockets each year.
Here’s one example. During World War II, when men like my grandfather went off to war, having women like my grandmother in the workforce was a national security priority — so this country provided universal childcare. In today’s economy, when having both parents in the workforce is an economic necessity for many families, we need affordable, high-quality childcare more than ever. It’s not a nice-to-have — it’s a must-have. It’s time we stop treating childcare as a side issue, or a women’s issue, and treat it like the national economic priority that it is for all of us. And that’s why my plan will make quality childcare more available, and more affordable, for every middle-class and low-income family with young children in America — by creating more slots and a new tax cut of up to $3,000 per child, per year.
Here’s another example. Today, we’re the only advanced country on Earth that doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave or paid maternity leave to our workers. Forty-three million workers have no paid sick leave. Forty-three million. Think about that. And that forces too many parents to make the gut-wrenching choice between a paycheck and a sick kid at home. So I’ll be taking new action to help states adopt paid leave laws of their own. And since paid sick leave won where it was on the ballot last November, let’s put it to a vote right here in Washington. Send me a bill that gives every worker in America the opportunity to earn seven days of paid sick leave. It’s the right thing to do.
Of course, nothing helps families make ends meet like higher wages. That’s why this Congress still needs to pass a law that makes sure a woman is paid the same as a man for doing the same work. Really. It’s 2015. It’s time. We still need to make sure employees get the overtime they’ve earned. And to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: If you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, go try it. If not, vote to give millions of the hardest-working people in America a raise.
These ideas won’t make everybody rich, or relieve every hardship. That’s not the job of government. To give working families a fair shot, we’ll still need more employers to see beyond next quarter’s earnings and recognize that investing in their workforce is in their company’s long-term interest. We still need laws that strengthen rather than weaken unions, and give American workers a voice. But things like child care and sick leave and equal pay; things like lower mortgage premiums and a higher minimum wage — these ideas will make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of families. That is a fact. And that’s what all of us — Republicans and Democrats alike — were sent here to do.
Second, to make sure folks keep earning higher wages down the road, we have to do more to help Americans upgrade their skills.
America thrived in the 20th century because we made high school free, sent a generation of GIs to college, and trained the best workforce in the world. But in a 21st century economy that rewards knowledge like never before, we need to do more.
By the end of this decade, two in three job openings will require some higher education. Two in three. And yet, we still live in a country where too many bright, striving Americans are priced out of the education they need. It’s not fair to them, and it’s not smart for our future.
That’s why I am sending this Congress a bold new plan to lower the cost of community college — to zero.
Forty percent of our college students choose community college. Some are young and starting out. Some are older and looking for a better job. Some are veterans and single parents trying to transition back into the job market. Whoever you are, this plan is your chance to graduate ready for the new economy, without a load of debt. Understand, you’ve got to earn it — you’ve got to keep your grades up and graduate on time. Tennessee, a state with Republican leadership, and Chicago, a city with Democratic leadership, are showing that free community college is possible. I want to spread that idea all across America, so that two years of college becomes as free and universal in America as high school is today. And I want to work with this Congress, to make sure Americans already burdened with student loans can reduce their monthly payments, so that student debt doesn’t derail anyone’s dreams.
Thanks to Vice President Biden’s great work to update our job training system, we’re connecting community colleges with local employers to train workers to fill high-paying jobs like coding, and nursing, and robotics. Tonight, I’m also asking more businesses to follow the lead of companies like CVS and UPS, and offer more educational benefits and paid apprenticeships — opportunities that give workers the chance to earn higher-paying jobs even if they don’t have a higher education.
And as a new generation of veterans comes home, we owe them every opportunity to live the American Dream they helped defend. Already, we’ve made strides towards ensuring that every veteran has access to the highest quality care. We’re slashing the backlog that had too many veterans waiting years to get the benefits they need, and we’re making it easier for vets to translate their training and experience into civilian jobs. Joining Forces, the national campaign launched by Michelle and Jill Biden, has helped nearly 700,000 veterans and military spouses get new jobs. So to every CEO in America, let me repeat: If you want somebody who’s going to get the job done, hire a veteran.
Finally, as we better train our workers, we need the new economy to keep churning out high-wage jobs for our workers to fill.

Since 2010, America has put more people back to work than Europe, Japan, and all advanced economies combined. Our manufacturers have added almost 800,000 new jobs. Some of our bedrock sectors, like our auto industry, are booming. But there are also millions of Americans who work in jobs that didn’t even exist ten or twenty years ago — jobs at companies like Google, and eBay, and Tesla.
So no one knows for certain which industries will generate the jobs of the future. But we do know we want them here in America. That’s why the third part of middle-class economics is about building the most competitive economy anywhere, the place where businesses want to locate and hire.
21st century businesses need 21st century infrastructure — modern ports, stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest internet. Democrats and Republicans used to agree on this. So let’s set our sights higher than a single oil pipeline. Let’s pass a bipartisan infrastructure plan that could create more than thirty times as many jobs per year, and make this country stronger for decades to come.
21st century businesses, including small businesses, need to sell more American products overseas. Today, our businesses export more than ever, and exporters tend to pay their workers higher wages. But as we speak, China wants to write the rules for the world’s fastest-growing region. That would put our workers and businesses at a disadvantage. Why would we let that happen? We should write those rules. We should level the playing field. That’s why I’m asking both parties to give me trade promotion authority to protect American workers, with strong new trade deals from Asia to Europe that aren’t just free, but fair.
Look, I’m the first one to admit that past trade deals haven’t always lived up to the hype, and that’s why we’ve gone after countries that break the rules at our expense. But ninety-five percent of the world’s customers live outside our borders, and we can’t close ourselves off from those opportunities. More than half of manufacturing executives have said they’re actively looking at bringing jobs back from China. Let’s give them one more reason to get it done.
21st century businesses will rely on American science, technology, research and development. I want the country that eliminated polio and mapped the human genome to lead a new era of medicine — one that delivers the right treatment at the right time. In some patients with cystic fibrosis, this approach has reversed a disease once thought unstoppable. Tonight, I’m launching a new Precision Medicine Initiative to bring us closer to curing diseases like cancer and diabetes — and to give all of us access to the personalized information we need to keep ourselves and our families healthier.

I intend to protect a free and open internet, extend its reach to every classroom, and every community, and help folks build the fastest networks, so that the next generation of digital innovators and entrepreneurs have the platform to keep reshaping our world.
I want Americans to win the race for the kinds of discoveries that unleash new jobs — converting sunlight into liquid fuel; creating revolutionary prosthetics, so that a veteran who gave his arms for his country can play catch with his kid; pushing out into the Solar System not just to visit, but to stay. Last month, we launched a new spacecraft as part of a re-energized space program that will send American astronauts to Mars. In two months, to prepare us for those missions, Scott Kelly will begin a year-long stay in space. Good luck, Captain — and make sure to Instagram it.
Now, the truth is, when it comes to issues like infrastructure and basic research, I know there’s bipartisan support in this chamber. Members of both parties have told me so. Where we too often run onto the rocks is how to pay for these investments. As Americans, we don’t mind paying our fair share of taxes, as long as everybody else does, too. But for far too long, lobbyists have rigged the tax code with loopholes that let some corporations pay nothing while others pay full freight. They’ve riddled it with giveaways the superrich don’t need, denying a break to middle class families who do.
This year, we have an opportunity to change that. Let’s close loopholes so we stop rewarding companies that keep profits abroad, and reward those that invest in America. Let’s use those savings to rebuild our infrastructure and make it more attractive for companies to bring jobs home. Let’s simplify the system and let a small business owner file based on her actual bank statement, instead of the number of accountants she can afford. And let’s close the loopholes that lead to inequality by allowing the top one percent to avoid paying taxes on their accumulated wealth. We can use that money to help more families pay for childcare and send their kids to college. We need a tax code that truly helps working Americans trying to get a leg up in the new economy, and we can achieve that together.
Helping hardworking families make ends meet. Giving them the tools they need for good-paying jobs in this new economy. Maintaining the conditions for growth and competitiveness. This is where America needs to go. I believe it’s where the American people want to go. It will make our economy stronger a year from now, fifteen years from now, and deep into the century ahead.
Of course, if there’s one thing this new century has taught us, it’s that we cannot separate our work at home from challenges beyond our shores.
My first duty as Commander-in-Chief is to defend the United States of America. In doing so, the question is not whether America leads in the world, but how. When we make rash decisions, reacting to the headlines instead of using our heads; when the first response to a challenge is to send in our military — then we risk getting drawn into unnecessary conflicts, and neglect the broader strategy we need for a safer, more prosperous world. That’s what our enemies want us to do.
I believe in a smarter kind of American leadership. We lead best when we combine military power with strong diplomacy; when we leverage our power with coalition building; when we don’t let our fears blind us to the opportunities that this new century presents. That’s exactly what we’re doing right now — and around the globe, it is making a difference.
First, we stand united with people around the world who’ve been targeted by terrorists — from a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris. We will continue to hunt down terrorists and dismantle their networks, and we reserve the right to act unilaterally, as we’ve done relentlessly since I took office to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to us and our allies.
At the same time, we’ve learned some costly lessons over the last thirteen years.
Instead of Americans patrolling the valleys of Afghanistan, we’ve trained their security forces, who’ve now taken the lead, and we’ve honored our troops’ sacrifice by supporting that country’s first democratic transition. Instead of sending large ground forces overseas, we’re partnering with nations from South Asia to North Africa to deny safe haven to terrorists who threaten America. In Iraq and Syria, American leadership — including our military power — is stopping ISIL’s advance. Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group. We’re also supporting a moderate opposition in Syria that can help us in this effort, and assisting people everywhere who stand up to the bankrupt ideology of violent extremism. This effort will take time. It will require focus. But we will succeed. And tonight, I call on this Congress to show the world that we are united in this mission by passing a resolution to authorize the use of force against ISIL.

Second, we are demonstrating the power of American strength and diplomacy. We’re upholding the principle that bigger nations can’t bully the small — by opposing Russian aggression, supporting Ukraine’s democracy, and reassuring our NATO allies. Last year, as we were doing the hard work of imposing sanctions along with our allies, some suggested that Mr. Putin’s aggression was a masterful display of strategy and strength. Well, today, it is America that stands strong and united with our allies, while Russia is isolated, with its economy in tatters.
That’s how America leads — not with bluster, but with persistent, steady resolve.
In Cuba, we are ending a policy that was long past its expiration date. When what you’re doing doesn’t work for fifty years, it’s time to try something new. Our shift in Cuba policy has the potential to end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere; removes a phony excuse for restrictions in Cuba; stands up for democratic values; and extends the hand of friendship to the Cuban people. And this year, Congress should begin the work of ending the embargo. As His Holiness, Pope Francis, has said, diplomacy is the work of “small steps.” These small steps have added up to new hope for the future in Cuba. And after years in prison, we’re overjoyed that Alan Gross is back where he belongs. Welcome home, Alan.
Our diplomacy is at work with respect to Iran, where, for the first time in a decade, we’ve halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material. Between now and this spring, we have a chance to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran; secures America and our allies — including Israel; while avoiding yet another Middle East conflict. There are no guarantees that negotiations will succeed, and I keep all options on the table to prevent a nuclear Iran. But new sanctions passed by this Congress, at this moment in time, will all but guarantee that diplomacy fails — alienating America from its allies; and ensuring that Iran starts up its nuclear program again. It doesn’t make sense. That is why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress. The American people expect us to only go to war as a last resort, and I intend to stay true to that wisdom.
Third, we’re looking beyond the issues that have consumed us in the past to shape the coming century.

No foreign nation, no hacker, should be able to shut down our networks, steal our trade secrets, or invade the privacy of American families, especially our kids. We are making sure our government integrates intelligence to combat cyber threats, just as we have done to combat terrorism. And tonight, I urge this Congress to finally pass the legislation we need to better meet the evolving threat of cyber-attacks, combat identity theft, and protect our children’s information. If we don’t act, we’ll leave our nation and our economy vulnerable. If we do, we can continue to protect the technologies that have unleashed untold opportunities for people around the globe.
In West Africa, our troops, our scientists, our doctors, our nurses and healthcare workers are rolling back Ebola — saving countless lives and stopping the spread of disease. I couldn’t be prouder of them, and I thank this Congress for your bipartisan support of their efforts. But the job is not yet done — and the world needs to use this lesson to build a more effective global effort to prevent the spread of future pandemics, invest in smart development, and eradicate extreme poverty.
In the Asia Pacific, we are modernizing alliances while making sure that other nations play by the rules — in how they trade, how they resolve maritime disputes, and how they participate in meeting common international challenges like nonproliferation and disaster relief. And no challenge — no challenge — poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change.

2014 was the planet’s warmest year on record. Now, one year doesn’t make a trend, but this does — 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all fallen in the first 15 years of this century.
I’ve heard some folks try to dodge the evidence by saying they’re not scientists; that we don’t have enough information to act. Well, I’m not a scientist, either. But you know what — I know a lot of really good scientists at NASA, and NOAA, and at our major universities. The best scientists in the world are all telling us that our activities are changing the climate, and if we do not act forcefully, we’ll continue to see rising oceans, longer, hotter heat waves, dangerous droughts and floods, and massive disruptions that can trigger greater migration, conflict, and hunger around the globe. The Pentagon says that climate change poses immediate risks to our national security. We should act like it.
That’s why, over the past six years, we’ve done more than ever before to combat climate change, from the way we produce energy, to the way we use it. That’s why we’ve set aside more public lands and waters than any administration in history. And that’s why I will not let this Congress endanger the health of our children by turning back the clock on our efforts. I am determined to make sure American leadership drives international action. In Beijing, we made an historic announcement — the United States will double the pace at which we cut carbon pollution, and China committed, for the first time, to limiting their emissions. And because the world’s two largest economies came together, other nations are now stepping up, and offering hope that, this year, the world will finally reach an agreement to protect the one planet we’ve got.
There’s one last pillar to our leadership — and that’s the example of our values.
As Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we’re threatened, which is why I’ve prohibited torture, and worked to make sure our use of new technology like drones is properly constrained. It’s why we speak out against the deplorable anti-Semitism that has resurfaced in certain parts of the world. It’s why we continue to reject offensive stereotypes of Muslims — the vast majority of whom share our commitment to peace. That’s why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. We do these things not only because they’re right, but because they make us safer.
As Americans, we have a profound commitment to justice — so it makes no sense to spend three million dollars per prisoner to keep open a prison that the world condemns and terrorists use to recruit. Since I’ve been President, we’ve worked responsibly to cut the population of GTMO in half. Now it’s time to finish the job. And I will not relent in my determination to shut it down. It’s not who we are.
As Americans, we cherish our civil liberties — and we need to uphold that commitment if we want maximum cooperation from other countries and industry in our fight against terrorist networks. So while some have moved on from the debates over our surveillance programs, I haven’t. As promised, our intelligence agencies have worked hard, with the recommendations of privacy advocates, to increase transparency and build more safeguards against potential abuse. And next month, we’ll issue a report on how we’re keeping our promise to keep our country safe while strengthening privacy.
Looking to the future instead of the past. Making sure we match our power with diplomacy, and use force wisely. Building coalitions to meet new challenges and opportunities. Leading — always — with the example of our values. That’s what makes us exceptional. That’s what keeps us strong. And that’s why we must keep striving to hold ourselves to the highest of standards — our own.
You know, just over a decade ago, I gave a speech in Boston where I said there wasn’t a liberal America, or a conservative America; a black America or a white America — but a United States of America. I said this because I had seen it in my own life, in a nation that gave someone like me a chance; because I grew up in Hawaii, a melting pot of races and customs; because I made Illinois my home — a state of small towns, rich farmland, and one of the world’s great cities; a microcosm of the country where Democrats and Republicans and Independents, good people of every ethnicity and every faith, share certain bedrock values.
Over the past six years, the pundits have pointed out more than once that my presidency hasn’t delivered on this vision. How ironic, they say, that our politics seems more divided than ever. It’s held up as proof not just of my own flaws — of which there are many — but also as proof that the vision itself is misguided, and naïve, and that there are too many people in this town who actually benefit from partisanship and gridlock for us to ever do anything about it.
I know how tempting such cynicism may be. But I still think the cynics are wrong.
I still believe that we are one people. I still believe that together, we can do great things, even when the odds are long. I believe this because over and over in my six years in office, I have seen America at its best. I’ve seen the hopeful faces of young graduates from New York to California; and our newest officers at West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs, and New London. I’ve mourned with grieving families in Tucson and Newtown; in Boston, West, Texas, and West Virginia. I’ve watched Americans beat back adversity from the Gulf Coast to the Great Plains; from Midwest assembly lines to the Mid-Atlantic seaboard. I’ve seen something like gay marriage go from a wedge issue used to drive us apart to a story of freedom across our country, a civil right now legal in states that seven in ten Americans call home.
So I know the good, and optimistic, and big-hearted generosity of the American people who, every day, live the idea that we are our brother’s keeper, and our sister’s keeper. And I know they expect those of us who serve here to set a better example.
So the question for those of us here tonight is how we, all of us, can better reflect America’s hopes. I’ve served in Congress with many of you. I know many of you well. There are a lot of good people here, on both sides of the aisle. And many of you have told me that this isn’t what you signed up for — arguing past each other on cable shows, the constant fundraising, always looking over your shoulder at how the base will react to every decision.

 Imagine if we broke out of these tired old patterns. ImaginA better politics is one where we spend less time drowning in dark money for ads that pull us into the gutter, and spend more time lifting young people up, with a sense of purpose and possibility, and asking them to join in the great mission of building America.
If we’re going to have arguments, let’s have arguments — but let’s make them debates worthy of this body and worthy of this country.
We still may not agree on a woman’s right to choose, but surely we can agree it’s a good thing that teen pregnancies and abortions are nearing all-time lows, and that every woman should have access to the health care she needs.
Yes, passions still fly on immigration, but surely we can all see something of ourselves in the striving young student, and agree that no one benefits when a hardworking mom is taken from her child, and that it’s possible to shape a law that upholds our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.
We may go at it in campaign season, but surely we can agree that the right to vote is sacred; that it’s being denied to too many; and that, on this 50th anniversary of the great march from Selma to Montgomery and the passage of the Voting Rights Act, we can come together, Democrats and Republicans, to make voting easier for every single American.
We may have different takes on the events of Ferguson and New York. But surely we can understand a father who fears his son can’t walk home without being harassed. Surely we can understand the wife who won’t rest until the police officer she married walks through the front door at the end of his shift. Surely we can agree it’s a good thing that for the first time in 40 years, the crime rate and the incarceration rate have come down together, and use that as a starting point for Democrats and Republicans, community leaders and law enforcement, to reform America’s criminal justice system so that it protects and serves us all.
That’s a better politics. That’s how we start rebuilding trust. That’s how we move this country forward. That’s what the American people want. That’s what they deserve.
I have no more campaigns to run. My only agenda for the next two years is the same as the one I’ve had since the day I swore an oath on the steps of this Capitol — to do what I believe is best for America. If you share the broad vision I outlined tonight, join me in the work at hand. If you disagree with parts of it, I hope you’ll at least work with me where you do agree. And I commit to every Republican here tonight that I will not only seek out your ideas, I will seek to work with you to make this country stronger.
Because I want this chamber, this city, to reflect the truth — that for all our blind spots and shortcomings, we are a people with the strength and generosity of spirit to bridge divides, to unite in common effort, and help our neighbors, whether down the street or on the other side of the world.
I want our actions to tell every child, in every neighborhood: your life matters, and we are as committed to improving your life chances as we are for our own kids.
I want future generations to know that we are a people who see our differences as a great gift, that we are a people who value the dignity and worth of every citizen — man and woman, young and old, black and white, Latino and Asian, immigrant and Native American, gay and straight, Americans with mental illness or physical disability.
I want them to grow up in a country that shows the world what we still know to be true: that we are still more than a collection of red states and blue states; that we are the United States of America.
I want them to grow up in a country where a young mom like Rebekah can sit down and write a letter to her President with a story to sum up these past six years:
“It is amazing what you can bounce back from when you have to…we are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.”
My fellow Americans, we too are a strong, tight-knit family. We, too, have made it through some hard times. Fifteen years into this new century, we have picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and begun again the work of remaking America. We’ve laid a new foundation. A brighter future is ours to write. Let’s begin this new chapter — together — and let’s start the work right now.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless this country we love.

Aaron Rodgers has game; Olivia Munn had no idea who he was

I'm not an NFL quarterback, but I imagine that life goes something like this: Say you're an NFL quarterback, land the gorgeous girl. This goes with decades of beautiful tradition, from Joe Namath to Tom Brady.

I assumed that's how Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers started dating actress Olivia Munn. Or that their agents set it up, or however famous people in Hollywood start dating anyone. But no, Munn says she had no idea who Rodgers was when she first met him, and definitely did not know he was a famous football player.

"I had no idea," Munn said on "Conan" with Conan O'Brien. "When I met him I said, ‘So what do you do?’ He said, ‘Oh, I play football.’ I go, ‘Cool, what college?’ He’s like ‘Oh, I play professional.’ I say ‘Cool, what position?’ He’s like, ‘Quarterback.’ ‘Cool.’ That was kind of it."

So if it wasn't Rodgers' MVP award or his Super Bowl ring or the great work he does discount double-checking on television ads, why was Munn attracted to Rodgers?

"All I saw is that he was really attractive," Munn said. "I didn’t care what he did."

Well done.

Munn also spoke to Conan about enjoying life in Green Bay ("I love it in Green Bay," the famous actress said. "It’s really comfortable there.") and things like putting off a conference call to go pick up meat at Maplewood Meats in Green Bay. I'm curious as to what seemed stranger, Munn dropping by the meat market for venison or whatever she was getting, or the looks on the locals' faces when the movie actress stops in.

Munn might be well known but in Northeast Wisconsin, it's her boyfriend who would get all the looks in public. He's in little danger of anyone else there not recognizing him or knowing what he does.

Brittany Kerr Flashes Engagement Ring from Jason Aldean: 'We've Been on Cloud Nine'

Jason Aldean, Brittany Kerr

COURTESY BRITTANYLKERR

BY TIM NUDD

 @nudd 

09/26/2014 AT 09:15 AM EDT

She's in heaven, y'all. 

After news broke Thursday of her engagement to country star Jason Aldean, Brittany Kerr posted a photo of them kissing to Instagram – and gushed about how happy she is. 

"We've been on cloud nine the past few days!!" the American Idol alum wrote. "My heart has never been more full of happiness and love. 

"Can't wait to spend the rest of my life with this man. So many blessings and memories are in our future and SO thankful I get to share them with him. Thanks for all the support and kind words y'all have given us." 

Keep up with your favorite celebs in the pages of PEOPLE Magazine by subscribing now.

Kerr also shows off her engagement ring in the photo, which positively glows in the camera flash. 

Aldean, 37, proposed to Kerr on Tuesday, his rep confirmed. They were first linked two years ago, when they were spotted kissing in a Los Angeles bar while he was still married. 

Aldean and wife Jessica, who have two daughters together, split last year. 

'Grey's Anatomy' actor Patrick Dempsey holds first challenge since mother's death

LEWISTON, Maine -- Thousands of runners took part Saturday in the sixth Dempsey Challenge, the first time the cancer support fundraiser in honor of Patrick Dempsey's mother has been held since her death.

"This year's Dempsey Challenge is difficult without our mother but she is with us in our hearts and minds," Dempsey and his sisters, Mary and Alicia, said in a statement. "We are reminded of her strength in all of the survivors, friends, patients and family who join us this weekend in celebrating hope."

For five years, their mother Amanda Dempsey led the survivor walk that opened the event. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1997 and battled multiple recurrences in the years that followed. She died in March at 79.

Patrick Dempsey, who plays Dr. Derek Shepherd on TV's "Grey's Anatomy," launched the Dempsey Challenge because of his mother's battles.

The Sun-Journal reported that Dempsey told the crowd Saturday at the starting line: "This is one of the most important days of my life." The actor joked around and chatted with participants, and he signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans.

Money raised from the event goes to The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing, which he and his sisters created in 2008 in partnership with the Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. Last year's Dempsey Challenge raised $1.1 million for the center, which provides free support, education and integrative medicine services for anyone impacted by cancer.

Saturday's events included 5K and 10K runs. Sunday's events focused on cycling, with rides ranging from 10 miles to 100 miles, following by a closing ceremony with the actor.

Amber Rose filed for divorce from Wiz Khalifa the day after she 'found him with another woman at 2am'

They announced their divorce last week and it seems increasingly unlikely that the split between  Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa will be an amicable one. 

The formerly loved-up couple, who have a one-year-old-son, have been taking pot shots at each other since news of their separation became public.

And now, it is being reported that the cropped-haired model filed divorce papers the day after she discovered the rapper with another woman at 2am, according to TMZ.

Scroll down for video

+4

At war: Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose are divorcing after a year of marriage amid reports of cheating by both parties

Wiz Kalifa kisses Amber Rose's head at the BET Awards (archive)

The curvaceous 30-year-old allegedly made the shock discovery when she arrived unannounced at the home Wiz had recently moved in to following the breakdown of their marriage.

The showbiz website, citing sources close to the Black And Yellow star, said he made it perfectly clear to his wife that the marriage was dead two weeks prior - and refutes claims he was cheating.

Sources told the website that Wiz said: 'I just didn't want to be married to her anymore,' 

Apparently there was also tension between the pair because Wiz refused to allow his wife to accompany him on his Under The Influence tour. 

+4

Performing: Wiz, pictured in concert in August is reported to have stated that he just 'didn't want to be married' to Amber anymore 

Both sides have accused each other of cheating and both have denied messing around outside of their short lived marriage.

But just a month ago, Wiz, 27, spoke about fighting the temptations that come his way.

In an interview with S2S magazine he said of his wife: 'She’s fresh. I’m super fresh. It ain’t hard. 

'There is no temptation for me. You gotta keep the THOTs in their place. I smoke with ‘em, chill, but it doesn’t go past that. You know? They know what it is though.'

Wiz also talked about fatherhood and how son Sebastian, now 19-months-old, has changed him. “I love my son. I take care of my son, he said.

'It’s like spending time with him is definitely that reset button that I be needing during the day. It’s good to have him here for that.'

+4

 Tug of war: According to reports, Amber and Wiz have yet to agree on custody arrangements over their child Sebastian

In the divorce papers filed by both parties this week, Amber has requested full custody. Wiz countered that with a request for joint custody of the little boy. 

TMZ state that Amber could be in line for a $1 million settlement plus upwards of $5,000 a month as part of an eight page prenuptial agreement.

A source told E! that the pair have had marital issues for some time.

'They cared very much for each other but it all happened so fast between having the baby and getting married. 

'They really did not know each other as much as they should have before getting married.'

Amber Rose, Wiz Khalifa on 2014 MTV VMAs red carpet (archive)

+4

Blame game: Both sides have accused each other of cheating and both have denied messing around outside of their marriage.

Bill Simmons the latest casualty of Ray Rice affair as Roger Goodell clings to innocence

The ESPN sportswriter and commentator is like that medium’s Michael Bay, Chuck Lorre or Dan Brown: he hit on a formula that was appealing to a wide audience a long time ago, and he turned it into an empire that is both hugely popular and not without its critics.

Simmons pioneered voice-of-the-fan sportswriting, where everything relates back to gambling, the Rocky movies, or Beverly Hills 90210 — and every athlete and team must be assigned a historical rank. When the actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died, Simmons opened his podcast by trying to determine how many other actors were better than him, as though the best way to remember someone who had just passed away tragically was to figure out if he was a starter on the All-Actor Team.

So, no, Simmons is not one of journalism’s great seekers of truth. And yet, the news that he was disciplined by ESPN — a three-week suspension — for daring to call Roger Goodell a liar has suddenly rendered him a sympathetic character, just another speck of mud on the National Football League’s boot.

More than anything, though, the fact that ESPN has picked a fight with one of its biggest personalities, a notoriously sensitive one at that, suggests that the NFL brought serious pressure to bear, and that it has no intention of casting Goodell overboard, even as scandals related to his discipline of players continue to roil.

This is a remarkable point to have reached. It was only a week ago that Goodell appeared to have reached the end of his plank. There was the amazingly tone-deaf press conference in New York, where the commissioner admitted mistakes, but would only vow to develop policies over the next few months that would demonstrate that the NFL is, to use his words, serious about “punishing behaviour that is totally unacceptable.” A bold stance. It was here that Goodell refused to acknowledge that he, personally, deserved a lot of the blame for the Ray Rice scandal, since he had quite obviously failed to investigate the February incident that ended with Rice rendering his now-wife, Janay, unconscious, before handing the running back a feather-light two-game suspension.

Two weeks after TMZ had published the elevator tape that showed Rice punching Janay in the face, Goodell, finally addressing the matter, was still acting like it was a wacky series of unfortunate events that caused him to tread so lightly around the Rice case, as opposed to a conscious decision on his part. What did Rice tell him about what happened that February night? Can’t say, under appeal. Why was the NFL’s crack security team unable to get the video that TMZ got with a phone call, and a copy of which was with Rice’s lawyers all along? These are the things we are trying to determine, Goodell said. His answers to every pointed question were the verbal equivalent of a shrug.Not long after that press conference, ESPN published on its web site a long, deeply reported account of the Rice investigation, anonymously sourced but obviously coming from Team Rice, in which it was made clear that Rice felt he gave an honest account of what happened in the elevator — and that both the league and the Ravens seemed to have many opportunities to acquire the tape that would have ended any uncertainty about it.

It was this article that caused Simmons, on the Monday edition of his podcast The B.S. Report, to freak out a little. He called Goodell a liar, said it was f—ing bulls— to suggest otherwise, and basically dared his bosses to come after him for the “liar” comments. And, lo, challenge accepted.

Don Juan Moore/The Associated PressBill Simmons called Goodell a liar, said it was f---ing bulls--- to suggest otherwise, and basically dared his bosses to come after him for the “liar” comments. And, lo, challenge accepted.

While hardly anyone who has followed the Rice situation in recent weeks would dispute the substance of Simmons’ comments, it’s true that he lacked the evidence to phrase it quite so bluntly. Goodell is hanging his integrity on a very specific interpretation of what happened: Rice gave him an account of the incident that was “inconsistent” with what the TMZ tape eventually showed. Thus, he and the Ravens brought down the hammer within moments of one another.

But, even accepting Goodell at his word, that inconsistency he clings to amounts to Rice having told him (and the Ravens) that he hit Janay, possibly with an open hand, hard enough to knock her over, where she hit her head on a railing and lost consciousness. Again: this is the charitable version of what Goodell knew when he decided that two games was a suitable suspension for it. The sources in that ESPN article suggest he was told everything, including the nature of the closed-fist punch.

Either way, what the commissioner refuses to acknowledge is that, even if he was submarined by a player who wasn’t fully truthful with him, he’s just as guilty for having not done enough to assess what went on between Rice and his wife before he meted out a paltry suspension.

Roger Goodell could have admitted three weeks ago that his investigation of Ray Rice wasn’t up to the NFL’s usual strict standards, that domestic violence cases need special consideration that he wasn’t prepared for, and that he took responsibility for the mistakes and was pledging to fix them. Instead, he effectively blamed Rice for his own lack of diligence, conveniently casting the wife abuser as a liar, too. Gosh, the commissioner said, I can’t believe I was misled, and we’ll get it right next time. Goodell made Rice the sacrificial lamb, so it wouldn’t be him.

It seems insane that the NFL’s owners are fine with this. Yes, Goodell’s NFL makes them millions, but so would an NFL with anyone else in charge. Literally anyone. Condi Rice. A random fan. Doug Ford. (Probably not Doug Ford.)

But, a high-profile commentator at an NFL broadcast partner shoots his mouth off, and the response is to protect the commissioner’s honour? Seriously: what honour?

Bill Simmons isn’t the martyr we need, but he’s the martyr we have

How did John Rocker's first episode of 'Survivor' go?

Yes, John Rocker -- cockroach of sports -- is on "Survivor." There were a lot of places this could have conceivably gone. I've never watched a single minute of "Survivor" before, so I'm clearly the person to review his first appearance on the show.

My recap shall be divided into three sections: things John Rocker did or said, me not understanding how "Survivor" works and POTPOURRI. Let's get to this bad, long show.

JOHN ROCKER QUOTABLES AND NOTABLES:

- The show introduces us to a gay couple that "performs on Broadway" and twins from Sri Lanka, which is basically the show winking and nudging you and grinning while pointing at John Rocker, noted intolerance aficionado.

- John and his girlfriend, Julie, are introduced. This is literally John Rocker's opening video-package monologue, verbatim:

"I've spent the last 15 years of my life trying to say I'm not the loud, obnoxious, boisterous kinda guy, but the media has loved, over the years, to label racist, bigot, homophobic, everything else. Call somebody a bigot? Them are fighting words right there."

Yeah, John. You're not a loud, obnoxious guy. I can see you've been working real hard to shed that image.

Oh, you're not a bigot, John? YOUR WEBSITE SELLS WHITE T-SHIRTS THAT SAY "SPEAK ENGLISH."

- Julie thinks the other contestants will say, "Look at the girl with the hair and the boobs and the boyfriend. But I can stand on my own two feet." NOTE: none of the other contestants say any part of that.

- John Rocker rolls his eyes at his girlfriend being grossed out by bugs.

- After the couples/relatives have been split into two teams, the following exchange occurs between host Jeff Probst and Rocker:

PROBST: "John, what's it like for you? For a guy, you want to take care of your woman. That's what you're supposed to do, right?"
ROCKER: "Yeah, technically you're right. This is a civil war, though. Brother versus brother."

"Technically you're right?!" I have no idea if Probst was baiting Rocker, or if this is something that he/CBS actually, genuinely believes, but either way, good lord.

Also, John, pro tip: don't say "civil war" on national television if you're known for being racist.

- Older, Southern country boy Keith: "I watch all types of sports and I'm pretty sure this is John Rocker, relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. And he was an ass when he played then. He might still be an ass now." lol I like you, Keith.

- John Rocker used to look like Standard 90s Baseball Meathead. Like one of the jocks inRevenge of the Nerds. Now he looks like a floppy-haired Winklevoss.

- Rocker is the second-oldest person in his "tribe" and belches while making a lean-to.

- Julie, when talking about a person in her tribe who has taken charge: "I'm dating John Rocker, who used to play in the major leagues, and he is Type A with a capital A. So I understand the dude mentality." I prefer The Dude mentality.

- While Rocker wanders around in his underwear, coughing, two of the younger men in his tribe discuss him. One of them says, "I think he's like, famous or something? I think I've seen him play like some type of sport or something."

- Wes, Keith's son: "Man, I know that guy from somewhere. And I realized: he played professional baseball for the Atlanta Braves. That's my favorite team. Everyone was watching Atlanta back then, that's when they were in their prime." This is the first time shade is freely thrown at the present-day Atlanta Braves.

- Now we have our first JOHN ROCKER PLOT POINT: he wants to remain incognito!

Wes asks what John's last name is and he says -- to his immense credit -- "Wetteland." Of course, he then proceeds to misspell "Wetteland," so POINTS REDACTED.

WES: "You sure?"
ROCKER: /raises hand in oath

Rocker explains his desire to remain anonymous:

"I was hoping to skate through this game anonymous. You know, unscathed, stay under the radar. If I'm recognized by some of the other players in this game, I'll lie about it, because I haven't had a whole lot of anonymity for the last 18 years of my life."

Wes won't let up, though. He keeps grilling him.

WES: "[Rocker] was the man." 
ROCKER: "Back when the Braves were good." [shaaaaaaade] "Yeah, you got me. Keep it under your hat, though, please."

- John's team has to go to the "tribal council" or "soundstage" or whatever at the end of the episode, because he helped his team not-win. When asked about how quickly the three days have flown by, Rocker says, "It does seem to go quick. That is the name of the game." It's actually not, John.

- When one of the twins is talking about one of the Broadway performers and sassily saying the word "girlfriend," Rocker is directly behind her, making this face:

- Rocker is not voted off the island or wherever the hell they are.

- Clips of the upcoming season are shown at the end of the episode, as is the custom with television season premieres. There is a clip of Julie saying, "I'm feeling really deceived by John right now."

- The very last clip of the preview reel -- the very last thing shown on this premiere episode of "Survivor" -- is John Rocker looking directly at the camera and yelling, "IF YOU WERE A MAN, I WOULD KNOCK YOUR TEETH OUT." So ... there's that to look forward to.

SURVIVOR DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE:

- This is the 30th season of "Survivor." "Survivor" started in 2000. Okay, guys.

- The opening is just Jeff Probst in a helicopter. Just in helicopter narrating things. And then STANDING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HELICOPTER AS IT BANKS VERY HARD OVER THE OCEAN. WHAT IS THIS SHOW.

- There's a thing called EXILE ISLAND. You go there if you lose a "reward challenge." If you're sent there, you'll be back in time for the "immunity challenge." The winner of this "reward challenge" wins FLINT AND BEANS. A lady meets a guy in the woods and says, "If we can be a strong two, hopefully our peers are solid." There's also a "community challenge." This show is in Esperanto.

MISCELLANY:

- Other sports! There is a couple named Jaclyn and Jon. She's a former Miss Michigan. He used to play for Michigan State. He's also incredibly excitable, to the point where he's essentially 100% the Frank Gorshin version of The Riddler. Also, there is a young woman named BAYLOR.

- The Sri Lankan twins have also been on "Amazing Race." So it's somehow just fine to be on as many competition reality shows as you want? "Amazing Race" is the Poochie of this episode. ISN'T IT ENOUGH THAT I'M WATCHING ONE OF YOUR DUMB SHOWS, CBS?

More from SBNation.com

• Since the Royals last made the playoffs in 1985 ...
• Breaking down the American League wild card race
• Watch Derek Jeter's final Yankee Stadium at-bat set to 'My Way'
• The 50 best Twitter jokes about Derek Jeter's final night
• Diamondbacks fire manager Kirk Gibson and coach Alan Trammell
• Will the Braves or Yankees be better over the next 5 years?