Barack Obama

it is an honor to be here at southern univers __PUNCT__

it is a privileg to stand with so mani of our lead mayor from across thi countri __PUNCT__

whether it a small_town or a big_citi __PUNCT__ the govern that closest to the peopl is the on the peopl count on the most __PUNCT__

our mayor ar on the frontlin when it come to hous __PUNCT__ educ __PUNCT__ job_creation __PUNCT__ and find new wai to strengthen our famili and commun __PUNCT__

thei ar some of the hardest work_peopl in america and when a disast strike __PUNCT__ a katrina __PUNCT__ a shoot __PUNCT__ or a six alarm blaze __PUNCT__ it citi_hall we lean on __PUNCT__

it citi hall we call first __PUNCT__

and it citi hall we depend on to get us through the tough_time __PUNCT__

last weekend __PUNCT__ i attend a servic to commemor the __NUM___anniversari of the la riot __PUNCT__

after a juri acquit __NUM__ polic_offic of beat rodnei king __PUNCT__ a beat that wa film and flash around the world __PUNCT__ lo_angel erupt __PUNCT__

i rememb the sens of despair and powerless in watch on of america_greatest citi engulf in flame __PUNCT__

but i want to start todai with an inspir stori from that tragic event __PUNCT__ a stori about a babi who wa born into thi world with a bullet in it arm __PUNCT__

we learn about thi child from a doctor name andi moosa __PUNCT__

he wa work the afternoon shift on __DATE__ at st __PUNCT__ franci medic_center in lynwood as the second dai of violenc wa explod in the street __PUNCT__

he told us about a pregnant_woman who had been wear a white dress __PUNCT__

she wa in compton and on her wai to the supermarket __PUNCT__

where the bullet came from nobodi knew __PUNCT__

her sister __PUNCT__ in __PUNCT__ law notic a red spot in the middl of her white dress and said that i think you been shot __PUNCT__

the bullet had gone in __PUNCT__ but it had not exit __PUNCT__

the doctor describ the ultrasound and how he realiz that the bullet wa in the babi __PUNCT__

the doctor said __PUNCT__ we could tell it wa lodg in on of the upper limb __PUNCT__

we need to get thi babi out so we were in the deliveri room __PUNCT__

and here the thing __PUNCT__ the babi look great __PUNCT__

except for the swell in the right elbow in the fleshi part __PUNCT__ it hadn't even fractur a bone __PUNCT__

the bullet had lodg in the soft tissu in the muscl __PUNCT__

the babi wa fine __PUNCT__

it wa breath and cry and kick __PUNCT__

thei remov the bullet __PUNCT__ stitch up the babi arm __PUNCT__ and everyth wa fine __PUNCT__

the doctor went on to sai that there alwai go to be a scar to remind that child how quickli she came into the world in veri unusu circumst __PUNCT__

let think about that stori __PUNCT__

there alwai go to be a scar there __PUNCT__ that doesn't go awai __PUNCT__

you take the bullet out __PUNCT__

you stitch up the wound and __NUM___year later __PUNCT__ there still go to be a scar __PUNCT__

mani of the student in thi room were just learn to read and write when the riot start and tragedi struck the corner of florenc and normandi __PUNCT__

most of the mayor here know that those riot didn't erupt over night __PUNCT__ there had been a __PUNCT__ quiet riot __PUNCT__ build up in lo_angel and across thi countri for year __PUNCT__

if you had gone to ani street_corner in chicago or baton roug or selma or trenton or arcola __PUNCT__ mississippi __PUNCT__ you would have found the same young_men and women without hope __PUNCT__ without prospect __PUNCT__ and without a sens of destini other than life on the edg __PUNCT__ the edg of the law __PUNCT__ the edg of the economi __PUNCT__ the edg of famili structur and commun __PUNCT__

those __PUNCT__ quiet riot __PUNCT__ that take place everi dai ar born from the same place as the fire and the destruct and the polic deck out in riot gear and the death __PUNCT__

thei happen when a sens of disconnect settl in and hope dissip __PUNCT__

despair take hold and young_peopl all across thi countri look at the wai the world is and believ that thing ar never go to get ani better __PUNCT__

you tell yourself __PUNCT__ my school will alwai crumbl __PUNCT__

there will never be a good_job wait for me to excel at __PUNCT__

there will never be a place that i can be proud of and i can afford to call my home __PUNCT__

that despair quietli simmer and make it imposs to build strong commun and neighborhood __PUNCT__

and then on afternoon a juri sai __PUNCT__ not guilti __PUNCT__ or a hurrican hit __PUNCT__ and that despair is reveal for the world to see __PUNCT__

much of what we saw on our televis screen __NUM___year_ago wa lo_angel express a linger __PUNCT__ ongo __PUNCT__ pervas legaci __PUNCT__ a tragic legaci out of the tragic histori thi countri ha never fulli come to term with __PUNCT__

thi is not to excus the violenc of bash in a man head or destroi someon store and their life_work __PUNCT__

that kind of violenc is inexcus and self __PUNCT__ defeat __PUNCT__

it doe __PUNCT__ howev __PUNCT__ describ the realiti of mani commun around thi countri __PUNCT__

and it made me think about our citi and commun all around thi countri __PUNCT__ how not onli do we still have scar from that riot and the __PUNCT__ quiet riot __PUNCT__ that happen everi dai __PUNCT__ but how in too mani place we haven't even taken the bullet out __PUNCT__

look at what happen in new orlean and along the gulf_coast when katrina hit __PUNCT__

peopl ask me whether i thought race wa the reason the respons wa so slow __PUNCT__

i said __PUNCT__ no __PUNCT__

thi administr wa colorblind in it incompet __PUNCT__

but everyon here know the disast and the poverti happen long befor that hurrican hit __PUNCT__

all the hurrican did wa make bare what we ignor each and everi dai which is that there ar whole set of commun that ar impoverish __PUNCT__ that don't have meaning opportun __PUNCT__ that don't have hope and thei ar forgotten __PUNCT__

thi disast wa a power metaphor for what gone on for gener __PUNCT__

in new orlean __PUNCT__ the murder rate wa on of the highest in the countri __PUNCT__ ten_time the nation_averag __PUNCT__ well befor the hurrican hit __PUNCT__

young_men di far more frequent from gunshot_wound than thei did from anyth els __PUNCT__

the school were fail long befor the leve broke __PUNCT__

the citi poverti_rate wa twice the nation_averag __PUNCT__

there wa a reason why the evacu fail and so mani peopl were strand on their roof top __PUNCT__

the folk who were make the plan assum that peopl had car that thei could fill up with ga __PUNCT__ put some perrier in the back __PUNCT__ drive to a hotel __PUNCT__ and check in with a credit_card for a week __PUNCT__

of cours __PUNCT__ the feder_respons after katrina wa similar to the respons after the riot in lo_angel __PUNCT__

peopl in washington wake up and ar surpris that there poverti in our midst __PUNCT__ and that other were frustrat and angri __PUNCT__

then there ar panel and there ar hear __PUNCT__

there ar commiss __PUNCT__

there ar report __PUNCT__

aid dollar ar approv but thei can't seem to get to the peopl __PUNCT__

and then noth realli chang except the new coverag quiet down __PUNCT__

thi isn't to diminish the extraordinari generos of the american_peopl at the time __PUNCT__

i want to thank the faculti and student here at southern univers for turn your field hous and dorm into shelter for so mani in the aftermath of katrina __PUNCT__

that act of kind __PUNCT__ the light in that storm __PUNCT__ will never be forgotten __PUNCT__

i want to thank the nation_confer of black mayor for their effort __PUNCT__ secur more __MONEY___million in new market tax_credit to assist with redevelop __PUNCT__ and creat your own disast relief fund that help __NUM___famili in __NUM__ gulf_coast commun __PUNCT__

but despit thi extraordinari generos __PUNCT__ here we ar __NUM___month later __PUNCT__ or15 year later in the case of la __PUNCT__ and the home haven't been built __PUNCT__ the busi haven't return __PUNCT__ and those same commun ar still drown and smolder under the same hopeless as befor the tragedi hit __PUNCT__

it is time for us to come togeth and take the bullet out __PUNCT__

if we have more black_men in prison than ar in our colleg and univers __PUNCT__ then it time to take the bullet out __PUNCT__

if we have almost __NUM___million_peopl go to the emerg_room for treatabl ill like asthma that cost us half a billion_dollar __PUNCT__ it time to take the bullet out __PUNCT__

if on out of everi nine kid doesn't have health_insur __PUNCT__ it time to take the bullet out __PUNCT__

if we keep send our kid to dilapid school build __PUNCT__ if we keep fight thi war in iraq __PUNCT__ a war that never should have been author and wage __PUNCT__ a war that cost us __MONEY___million million_dollar a dai and the sacrific of so mani innoc_live __PUNCT__ if we have all these challeng and noth chang __PUNCT__ then everi mayor in america need to come togeth __PUNCT__ form our own surgeri team __PUNCT__ and take the bullet out __PUNCT__

let start with educ __PUNCT__

we know what work __PUNCT__

we know that if we put a dollar into earli_childhood childhood_educ that we get seven dollar back in reduc drop out rate __PUNCT__ reduc delinqu __PUNCT__ reduc prison rate __PUNCT__ more young_peopl can go to colleg and get good_job __PUNCT__

we know thei work __PUNCT__

an import studi about an old program call abecedarian __PUNCT__ in which children from low __PUNCT__ incom_famili __PUNCT__ almost all of them black __PUNCT__ receiv full __PUNCT__ time educ child_care from infanc through ag___NUM__ said kid were three time more like to go to colleg __PUNCT__

thei were half as like to becom a teen parent and smoke_marijuana __PUNCT__

in anoth studi about anoth effect program at the perri preschool __PUNCT__ which serv low __PUNCT__ incom black_children in michigan __PUNCT__ kid need special_educ less often __PUNCT__ and thei were three time as like to own their own home and half as like to go on welfar __PUNCT__

that earli_childhood program even help the next gener __PUNCT__

so we know what it take to improv our school __PUNCT__

we know that if children ar learn in dilapid build with teacher that ar underpaid and textbook that ar __NUM___year old __PUNCT__ thei will not learn __PUNCT__

to chang thi __PUNCT__ we need to fundament reform no child_left behind __PUNCT__

the slogan is right __PUNCT__ but how the law ha been implement is wrong __PUNCT__

the slogan is good __PUNCT__ but how thei left the monei behind is wrong __PUNCT__

let get seriou __PUNCT__

let final_make a qualiti_educ access to everi american child so that everi student can graduat from high_school readi for colleg and work in a knowledg __PUNCT__ base_economi __PUNCT__

to begin the great transform in our school __PUNCT__ we need to invest in the most import_part of a child educ __PUNCT__ the man or woman stand at the head of the classroom __PUNCT__

as presid __PUNCT__ i will recruit hundr of thousand of new teacher and princip __PUNCT__

for what it cost us to fund the iraq_war for __NUM___dai __PUNCT__ we can recruit a new armi of teacher and princip __PUNCT__

as presid __PUNCT__ i will recruit a new gener of scienc and technolog leader to teach our children the skill thei will need to be competit __PUNCT__

we need to expand summer learn opportun for our children emphas math and scienc __PUNCT__

and student __PUNCT__ who live in poverti __PUNCT__ suffer from a learn disabl or who don't speak_english at home __PUNCT__ should get the extra help thei need and their school need the resourc to help their student reach their full_potenti __PUNCT__

i want to support teacher at all stage of their career by increas salari across the board __PUNCT__ improv incent to get the best teacher to work in our rural_area and our most challeng citi __PUNCT__ provid more resourc so that teacher have more secur and control over their classroom __PUNCT__ and by provid more opportun for profession develop __PUNCT__

there ar model of excel in mani commun that show when you put a great teacher in a classroom __PUNCT__ student can learn __PUNCT__

there murphi high_school in mobil alabama and rufu king in milwauke wisconsin __PUNCT__

there no shortag of great_idea __PUNCT__ we just need to scale them up __PUNCT__

we need to get past the old style of polit that onli talk about educ and start actual educ our kid for the __NUM___centuri __PUNCT__

and while we at it __PUNCT__ let do someth for the young_peopl readi for colleg __PUNCT__

here at southern univers in baton roug __PUNCT__ i sure that thi won't come as a surpris when i sai that colleg_tuition rate ar rise almost __NUM__ percent a year __PUNCT__

those increas have price out more than __NUM___student in __NUM__ __PUNCT__

and for what it cost to fund the iraq_war for three week __PUNCT__ we could provid each student with four year at a public colleg or univers __PUNCT__

we all know how import educ is __PUNCT__

it a passport to a better life __PUNCT__

but million of children ar not given an equal chanc to realiz their own potenti __PUNCT__

and for too long __PUNCT__ our kid __PUNCT__ not __PUNCT__ those kid __PUNCT__ but our kid __PUNCT__ have been ask to settl for mediocr simpli becaus of their zip code __PUNCT__ the color of their skin __PUNCT__ and how much their parent earn __PUNCT__

thi is wrong __PUNCT__

we must chang __PUNCT__

we must take thi bullet out if america is to remain the lead forc for good and creativ and innov in thi world __PUNCT__

but we can't stop at educ if we want stronger commun __PUNCT__

we need to provid econom_opportun in everi corner of our countri if we want to take the bullet out __PUNCT__

we know what it take to develop our commun econom __PUNCT__

right now __PUNCT__ the iraq_war is set to cost us __MONEY___trillion trillion_dollar __PUNCT__ that more than enough to lai broadband line from __PUNCT__ columbia south_carolina to portland oregon __PUNCT__

what good is the inform super_highwai when too mani town and citi ar still ride around in dial __PUNCT__ up __PUNCT__

we must connect the disconnect so econom_opportun is there for everyon __PUNCT__ not just everyon who can afford it __PUNCT__

it might not stop certain job from be outsourc to india __PUNCT__ but thi nation effort would creat_job over __NUM___job a year over the next two decad and improv our countri competit __PUNCT__

we know that we have to invest in transit job too __PUNCT__

when there ar peopl who ar homeless __PUNCT__ veteran struggl with post __PUNCT__ traumat_stress disord from thi war in iraq __PUNCT__ and thousand of children ag out of foster_care __PUNCT__ we can't expect them to have all the skill thei need for work __PUNCT__

thei mai need help with basic skill __PUNCT__ how to show up to work on time __PUNCT__ wear the right cloth __PUNCT__ and act appropri in an offic __PUNCT__

we have to help them get there __PUNCT__

that why i have call for __MONEY___million to begin innov new job_train and workforc develop program __PUNCT__

thi plan will also provid mentor opportun and let case worker help men and women make difficult transit __PUNCT__

it will coordin with local employ __PUNCT__ commun_colleg __PUNCT__ and commun_organ so that job_train train_program ar actual connect to good pai_job with the opportun for career growth __PUNCT__

thi would help lift more peopl out of poverti and into the middl_class __PUNCT__

there ar model all across thi countri for how for how we can rebuild our citi and commun __PUNCT__

there a new idea come for the gulf_coast and the new orlean area __PUNCT__

congressman benni thompson of mississippi __PUNCT__ emanuel cleaver __PUNCT__ the former mayor of kansa_citi and head of the nation_confer of black mayor __PUNCT__ and other member of the congression black_caucu will soon introduc_legisl that creat a gulf_coast recoveri and empower initi __PUNCT__

it will emploi peopl who fled the region to rebuild the region __PUNCT__ the hous __PUNCT__ the busi __PUNCT__ road and bridg __PUNCT__

it will give peopl an incent to move_back back_home and put them back to work __PUNCT__

that the kind of leadership we need to take the bullet out __PUNCT__

if we want to creat more job in our commun __PUNCT__ let stop send __MONEY___million a dai to some of the most hostil nation on the planet and end our depend on foreign_oil __PUNCT__

we don't have an energi_polici right now __PUNCT__

that why we fund both side of the war on terror __PUNCT__ melt the polar ic cap __PUNCT__ and let the old style of polit make sure that detroit doesn't produc more fuel_effici car __PUNCT__

and if we don't do someth soon __PUNCT__ more katrina ar go to happen and we know which commun will bear the brunt of those storm __PUNCT__

when it come to global_climat chang and develop the fuel for the __NUM___centuri __PUNCT__ america must lead __PUNCT__

i want our farmer to grow the renew fuel and produc biofuel __PUNCT__

i want us to lead the wai on low carbon fuel __PUNCT__

i want our young_peopl to imagin and build the next great invent __PUNCT__

if we final have a presid who deal with thi challeng __PUNCT__ we could not onli make our countri safer __PUNCT__ we could save the planet and creat_job throughout all our commun __PUNCT__

we must meet thi challeng __PUNCT__

we must take the bullet out that stop our progress for all these year and bring more econom_opportun to everi commun __PUNCT__

we can do thi __PUNCT__

but while we at it __PUNCT__ what good is an educ and a job __PUNCT__ if there ar onli million_dollar mansion and quarter million dollar condo and you can't afford a place to live __PUNCT__ when our children ar be price out of the neighborhood and town thei grew up in and when famili cannot find safe place to live near their job __PUNCT__ that a bullet that got to come out too __PUNCT__

we have to invest in hous again __PUNCT__

in too mani commun low __PUNCT__ incom_famili ar price out of the hous_market __PUNCT__

in fact __PUNCT__ there is not a singl metropolitan_area in the countri where a famili_earn minimum_wage can afford decent hous __PUNCT__

we need to creat an afford_hous trust_fund that would creat as much as __NUM__ new afford unit in mix incom neighborhood __PUNCT__

we need to fulli fund the commun_develop block_grant initi __PUNCT__

as a former commun_organ on the south_side of chicago __PUNCT__ i know how critic those grant ar and we have to do more to strengthen the partnership between the feder and local_govern when it relat to hous program like section___NUM__ for all those senior who lost their apart when the hurrican hit __PUNCT__

we can do thi __PUNCT__

we must also do more to protect homeown in thi countri __PUNCT__

a recent_report found that the hous_market experienc it worst sale __PUNCT__ month in __NUM___year and foreclosur ar up __NUM__ __PUNCT__ compar to last year __PUNCT__

right now __PUNCT__ too mani peopl ar caught in a nightmar caus by mortgag fraud and predatori_lend __PUNCT__

that is why my __PUNCT__ stop fraud __PUNCT__ propos requir mortgag profession to report suspect fraudul activ and support state and local_law law_enforc in their effort to fight fraud __PUNCT__

it address abus in the subprim_loan market where __NUM___million homeown mai be at risk of foreclosur __PUNCT__

and it provid __MONEY___million for hous counsel to tenant __PUNCT__ homeown __PUNCT__ and other consum so thei get the advic and guidanc thei need befor bui a hous and support if thei get in to troubl down the road __PUNCT__

even if we succe in make hous and homeownership afford for all __PUNCT__ if we don't help strengthen the famili that live insid those home __PUNCT__ then those bullet will make the american hous crumbl from the insid out __PUNCT__

we have to do more to help famili balanc work and take care of on anoth __PUNCT__

let help __NUM___million million_children by extend the child tax_credit to low __PUNCT__ incom worker __PUNCT__

let stop spend___MONEY__ __MONEY___million a dai in iraq and pass some tax_cut that peopl actual need __PUNCT__

if we want stronger famili in america __PUNCT__ then we have to confront the tough issu __PUNCT__

when too mani father think that respons end at concept __PUNCT__ when thei have not yet realiz that what make you a man is not the abil to have a child but the courag to rais on __PUNCT__ we know that our famili ar in crisi __PUNCT__

that a self __PUNCT__ inflict wound we all have to help heal __PUNCT__

now there ar wai that the govern can help __PUNCT__

that why i introduc the respons fatherhood and healthi famili act __PUNCT__

it provid father with innov job_train servic and increas access to the earn_incom incom_tax_credit __PUNCT__ eitc __PUNCT__

it call for an increas in child_support enforc by almost __MONEY___billion over __NUM___year __PUNCT__ result in nearli __MONEY___billion in collect __PUNCT__

that monei will go directli to children and their mother __PUNCT__

but let be honest __PUNCT__ govern alon can't solv the breakdown of our famili __PUNCT__

thi is someth we have to look to ourselv so that father becom parent too __PUNCT__

we know what the challeng ar in small_town and big_citi across thi countri __PUNCT__

we know what those bullet ar __PUNCT__

we talk about them for year __PUNCT__

what stop us from meet these challeng and take these bullet out is not the absenc of sound polici and sensibl plan __PUNCT__

what stop us is the failur of leadership and absenc of urgenc and a belief that if we ignor our problem like discrimin and poverti that thei will someon how go awai __PUNCT__

for the last six year we been told that our mount debt don't matter __PUNCT__ we been told that the anxieti american_feel about rise health_care_cost and stagnant wage ar an illus __PUNCT__ we been told that climat chang is a hoax __PUNCT__ and that tough talk and an ill __PUNCT__ conceiv war can replac diplomaci __PUNCT__ and strategi __PUNCT__ and foresight __PUNCT__

and when all els fail __PUNCT__ when katrina happen __PUNCT__ or the death_toll in iraq mount __PUNCT__ we been told that our crise ar somebodi els fault __PUNCT__

we distract from our real failur __PUNCT__ and told to blame the other parti __PUNCT__ or gai_peopl __PUNCT__ or immigr __PUNCT__

that kind of polit ha to stop __PUNCT__

that kind of quackeri ha to stop __PUNCT__

we don't need anymor faith healer and snake oil salesmen __PUNCT__

we need some doctor to take the bullet out __PUNCT__

befor we can start that work __PUNCT__ we need to end thi war in iraq __PUNCT__ which ha cost our countri and our peopl so much __PUNCT__

i oppos it from the veri start __PUNCT__ back in __NUM__ when it wasn't popular to be against thi war __PUNCT__

i oppos it becaus i believ strongli that it could lead to the disast we find ourselv in todai __PUNCT__ with our brave young servic men and women mire in the middl of a civil_war __PUNCT__

thi war never should have been author by congress and it never should have been wage __PUNCT__

and it time __PUNCT__ onc and for all __PUNCT__ to bring our troop_home __PUNCT__

it time to recogn that american_soldier can't solv iraq polit differ or ethnic rivalri __PUNCT__

that why i introduc a plan in __DATE__ that would have begun withdraw our combat forc on __DATE__ __PUNCT__ five dai_ago __PUNCT__ and would have brought them home by __DATE__ __PUNCT__ while forc the iraqi_govern to meet it oblig __PUNCT__

and thi is basic the plan the presid veto thi week __PUNCT__ defi not just a major of congress but the will of the american_peopl __PUNCT__

but rest_assur __PUNCT__ hi veto wa not the last word __PUNCT__

if the presid_continu to stubbornli ignor the realiti of iraq __PUNCT__ we intend to forc our colleagu in the senat and hous to take vote after vote until we overcom hi veto or he final understand that we have to chang cours __PUNCT__

we need __NUM___republican republican_vote in the senat to overrid a veto __PUNCT__

there a republican right here in louisiana who need to vote to end the war __PUNCT__

tomorrow i be in iowa and there a senat there whose vote we need __PUNCT__

i need the mayor and the student here to call their senat and congressman too __PUNCT__

thi is the onli chanc we have to truli end the war __PUNCT__

it not symbol __PUNCT__ thi is real __PUNCT__

sixteen vote and we can turn the page on thi war __PUNCT__

sixteen vote and we can start bring our men and women home __PUNCT__

let me just close by sai thi __PUNCT__

we can onli meet these challeng togeth __PUNCT__

we can onli take these bullet out togeth __PUNCT__

we can onli strengthen our citi and town and in turn transform our nation __PUNCT__ togeth __PUNCT__

we know how the doctor do it __PUNCT__

we watch some of these tv_show like er and grai anatomi __PUNCT__

the doctor ar in the oper room __PUNCT__

on got the scalpel __PUNCT__ but other ar watch the monitor and administ the iv __PUNCT__

the nurs ar on the job __PUNCT__

the orderli ar on the job __PUNCT__

there wa a team that got the bullet out of that babi_girl __NUM___year_ago __PUNCT__

she got a scar on her arm __PUNCT__ alwai will __PUNCT__ but she surviv __PUNCT__

america is go to surviv __PUNCT__

we won't forget where we came from __PUNCT__

we won't forget what happen __NUM___month month_ago __PUNCT__ __NUM___year_ago __PUNCT__ __NUM___year_ago __PUNCT__

we go to pull out bullet after bullet __PUNCT__

we go to stitch up arm after arm __PUNCT__

we go to wear those scar for justic __PUNCT__

we go to usher in a new america the wai that newborn child wa usher in __PUNCT__

we never go to forget there is alwai hope __PUNCT__ there is alwai light in the midst of desper dai __PUNCT__ that a babi can be born even with a bullet in her arm __PUNCT__

and we can come togeth as on peopl and transform thi nation __PUNCT__