Barack Obama

it wonder to be here todai __PUNCT__

i feel right at home in bettendorf __PUNCT__ which is just a stone throw from my home_state of illinoi __PUNCT__

but the truth is __PUNCT__ we share more than the bank of a great river __PUNCT__

if you spend_time in washington __PUNCT__ you hear a lot about the divis in our countri __PUNCT__

about how we becom more separ by geographi and ideolog __PUNCT__ race and religion __PUNCT__ wealth and opportun __PUNCT__

and we had plenti of politician who try to take advantag of these divis __PUNCT__ pit american against on anoth __PUNCT__ or target differ messag to differ audienc __PUNCT__

but as i travel around iowa and the rest of the countri these last nine month __PUNCT__ i haven't been struck by our differ __PUNCT__ i been impress by the valu and hope that we share __PUNCT__

in big_citi and small_town __PUNCT__ among men and women __PUNCT__ young and old __PUNCT__ black __PUNCT__ white __PUNCT__ and brown __PUNCT__ american share a faith in simpl dream __PUNCT__

a job with wage that can support a famili __PUNCT__

health_care that we can count on and afford __PUNCT__

a retir that is dignifi and secur __PUNCT__

educ and opportun for our kid __PUNCT__

common hope __PUNCT__

american_dream __PUNCT__

these ar dream that drove my grandpar __PUNCT__

after my grandfath serv in world_war_ii __PUNCT__ the gi_bill gave him a chanc to go to colleg __PUNCT__ and the govern gave them a chanc to bui a home __PUNCT__

thei move west __PUNCT__ work_hard at differ job __PUNCT__ and were abl to provid my mother with a decent educ __PUNCT__ to help rais me __PUNCT__ and to save enough to retir __PUNCT__

these ar dream that drove my father __PUNCT__ in __PUNCT__ law __PUNCT__

a citi worker in chicago __PUNCT__ he wa diagnos with multipl sclerosi at the ag of __NUM__ __PUNCT__

but everi dai __PUNCT__ even when he had to leav an hour earlier in the morn and reli on a walker to get him there __PUNCT__ he went to work while hi wife stai_home with the kid __PUNCT__

and on that singl salari __PUNCT__ he provid for hi famili and sent my wife michel and her brother to colleg __PUNCT__

hi dream wa to see them do better __PUNCT__

and thei have __PUNCT__

these ar dream that drove my mother __PUNCT__

a singl_mom __PUNCT__ even while reli on food_stamp as she finish her educ __PUNCT__ she follow her passion for help other __PUNCT__ and rais my sister and me to believ that in america there ar no barrier to success __PUNCT__ no matter what color you ar __PUNCT__ no matter where you from __PUNCT__ no matter how much monei you have __PUNCT__

and these ar the dream that led me to chicago over two decad_ago to becom a commun_organ __PUNCT__

the salari __PUNCT__ __MONEY__ a year __PUNCT__ wasn't what my friend would make in the corpor_world or at law_firm __PUNCT__

i didn't know a singl_person in chicago __PUNCT__

but i knew there were folk who need help __PUNCT__

the steel plant had close __PUNCT__

job were disappear __PUNCT__

in a forgotten corner of america __PUNCT__ the american_dream wa slip awai __PUNCT__

and i knew dream ar worth fight for __PUNCT__

what is uniqu about america is that we want these dream for more than ourselv __PUNCT__ we want them for each other __PUNCT__

that why we call it the american dream __PUNCT__

we want it for the kid who doesn't go to colleg becaus she cannot afford it __PUNCT__ for the worker whose wonder if hi wage will pai thi winter heat bill __PUNCT__ for __NUM___million_american american_live without health_care __PUNCT__ for the million more who worri if thei have enough to retir with the digniti thei have earn __PUNCT__

when our fellow_american ar deni the american_dream __PUNCT__ our own dream ar diminish __PUNCT__

and todai __PUNCT__ the cost of that dream is rise faster than ever befor __PUNCT__

while some have prosper beyond imagin in thi global_economi __PUNCT__ middl __PUNCT__ class_american __PUNCT__ as well as those work_hard to becom middl_class __PUNCT__ ar see the american_dream slip further and further awai __PUNCT__

you know it from your own live __PUNCT__

american ar work_harder for less and pai more for health_care and colleg __PUNCT__

for most folk __PUNCT__ on incom isn't enough to rais a famili and send your kid to colleg __PUNCT__

sometim __PUNCT__ two incom aren't enough __PUNCT__

it harder to save __PUNCT__

it harder to retir __PUNCT__

you do your part __PUNCT__ you meet your respons __PUNCT__ but it alwai seem like you tread water or fall behind __PUNCT__

and as i see thi everi dai on the campaign_trail __PUNCT__ i remind of how unlik it is that the dream of my famili could be realiz todai

i don't accept thi futur __PUNCT__

we need to reclaim the american_dream __PUNCT__

and that start with reclaim the white_hous from georg_bush and dick_chenei __PUNCT__

we tire of tax_cut for the wealthi that shift the burden onto the back of work_peopl __PUNCT__

we tire of wait ten_year for the minimum_wage to go up while ceo_pai is soar __PUNCT__

we tire of more american go without health_care __PUNCT__ of more american fall into poverti __PUNCT__ of more american kid who have the brain and the drive to go to colleg __PUNCT__ but can't __PUNCT__ becaus thei can't afford it __PUNCT__

we readi for the bush_administr to end __PUNCT__ becaus we ar sick and tire of be sick and tire __PUNCT__

but thi is about more than georg_bush __PUNCT__

he just the begin of the chang that we need __PUNCT__

these problem didn't start when he came to offic and thei won't end just becaus he leav __PUNCT__

we not go to reclaim that dream unless we put an end to the polit of polar and divis that is hold thi countri_back __PUNCT__ unless we stand up to the corpor_lobbyist that have stood in the wai of progress __PUNCT__ unless we have leadership that doesn't just tell peopl what thei want to hear __PUNCT__ but tell everyon what thei need to know __PUNCT__

that the chang we need __PUNCT__

i believ that american want to come togeth again behind a common_purpos __PUNCT__

american want to reclaim our american_dream __PUNCT__

that why i run for presid of the unit_state __PUNCT__

it the same reason i pack up my car and move to chicago __PUNCT__

becaus in thi countri __PUNCT__ that dream is worth fight for __PUNCT__ not just for ourselv __PUNCT__ but for each other __PUNCT__

and that why i don't think you should settl for a presid who onli there for you when it easi or conveni or popular __PUNCT__ i think you deserv a presid who you can trust will fight for your dream everi hour of everi dai for the next four year __PUNCT__

that the chang we need __PUNCT__

thi start with an economi that work for work_peopl __PUNCT__

american don't expect govern to solv all our problem __PUNCT__

but you tire of a govern that work for special_interest __PUNCT__ and not for you __PUNCT__

it time that we had leadership that worri as much about main_street as it doe about wall_street __PUNCT__

that why i introduc an american_dream agenda __PUNCT__ to put some wind at the back of work_peopl __PUNCT__ to lower the cost of get ahead __PUNCT__ and to protect and extend opportun for the middl_class __PUNCT__

we need to give work_famili a break __PUNCT__

for twenti __PUNCT__ five year __PUNCT__ we seen gap in wealth grow larger __PUNCT__ while our tax_code that favor wealth over work __PUNCT__

that why i propos an incom_tax tax_cut to offset the payrol_tax that work_american ar alreadi pai __PUNCT__

thi will be worth up to __MONEY__ for a work_famili __PUNCT__

i make retir more secur for america senior by elimin incom_tax for ani retire make less than __MONEY__ per year __PUNCT__

and i won't wait ten_year to rais the minimum_wage __PUNCT__ i guarante that it goe up everi singl year __PUNCT__

that the chang that work_american need __PUNCT__

we know that the cost of the american_dream must never come at the expens of the american_famili __PUNCT__

you work longer hour __PUNCT__

more famili have two parent work __PUNCT__

meanwhil __PUNCT__ it hard to get a hand __PUNCT__

it even harder to get a break __PUNCT__

that why i doubl spend on qualiti after __PUNCT__ school program __PUNCT__ so that you can know your kid ar safe and secur __PUNCT__

and that why i expand the famili medic leav act to includ more busi and million more worker __PUNCT__ to let parent particip in school activ with their kid __PUNCT__ and to cover elderli care __PUNCT__

and we final put feder support behind state effort to provid paid famili and medic leav __PUNCT__

we also need to chang a system that is stack against women __PUNCT__

forti percent of work women do not have a singl paid sick dai __PUNCT__

more and more women ar deni job or promot becaus thei got kid at home __PUNCT__

as the son of a singl_mother __PUNCT__ that is not the america that i believ in __PUNCT__

i be a presid who stand up for work_parent __PUNCT__

we requir employ to provid seven paid sick dai each year __PUNCT__

we enforc law that prohibit caregiv discrimin __PUNCT__

and we encourag flexibl work schedul to better balanc work and parent for mother and father __PUNCT__

that the chang that work_famili need __PUNCT__

we also need a hous_market that is honest __PUNCT__ open and account __PUNCT__

i introduc a bill in the senat that crack down on mortgag fraud __PUNCT__

as presid __PUNCT__ i get tough on enforc and rais penalti on lender who have broken the rule __PUNCT__

for homeown face foreclosur through no fault of their own __PUNCT__ we creat a fund and reform bankruptci_law to give them a shot at avoid foreclosur __PUNCT__

we mandat that prospect homebuy have access to accur and complet inform about their mortgag option __PUNCT__

and we give middl_class homeown ad relief by provid a tax_credit that cover __NUM__ percent of a famili mortgag_interest interest_payment each year __PUNCT__

that the chang that america homeown need __PUNCT__

sinc mani peopl who hold subprim_mortgag ar shift their debt to credit_card __PUNCT__ we have to make sure that thei understand their commit __PUNCT__ otherwis credit card could be the next stage in the subprim crisi __PUNCT__

to make sure that american know what thei sign up for __PUNCT__ i institut a five __PUNCT__ star rate_system to inform consum about the level of risk involv in everi credit_card __PUNCT__

and we establish a credit card bill of right that will ban unilater chang to a credit card agreement __PUNCT__ ban rate chang to debt that alreadi incur __PUNCT__ and ban interest on late fee __PUNCT__

american need to pai what thei ow __PUNCT__ but thei should pai what fair __PUNCT__

thi same_principl of fair is need in our bankruptci_law __PUNCT__

for far too long __PUNCT__ the same politician in washington who have been cut_back the safeti_net for work_peopl have been protect golden parachut for the well __PUNCT__ off __PUNCT__ so worker lose their pension and their health_care __PUNCT__ while ceo get multi __PUNCT__ million_dollar payoff __PUNCT__

i fought against a bankruptci reform_bill in the senat that did more to protect credit_card_compani and bank than to help work_peopl __PUNCT__

i continu the fight for good bankruptci_law as presid __PUNCT__

no more bonus for execut while pension disappear __PUNCT__

we press firm to put more monei into their pension_fund __PUNCT__ and requir firm to disclos their pension fund invest __PUNCT__

and we increas the amount of wage and benefit that worker can claim in bankruptci court __PUNCT__

that the chang we need in our bankruptci_law __PUNCT__

and if you can demonstr that you went bankrupt becaus of medic expens __PUNCT__ then there must be a process that reliev that debt and let you get back on your feet __PUNCT__

i don't accept an america where we let someon go over a cliff just becaus thei get sick __PUNCT__

that is not who we ar __PUNCT__

everi four year politician come befor you to talk about health_care __PUNCT__

you hear the same promis __PUNCT__

and then you see the same result __PUNCT__

well it time to end the outrag of __NUM___million uninsur american __PUNCT__

it time to final do someth about it __PUNCT__

i reform health_care in illinoi __PUNCT__ and i didn't do it alon __PUNCT__ i did it by reach out to democrat and republican __PUNCT__

we took on the insur_industri __PUNCT__ and we won __PUNCT__

that how i pass a univers_health_care health_care_bill that cut a typic famili premium by up to __MONEY__

and mark my word __PUNCT__ i will sign thi bill by the end of my first term as presid __PUNCT__

that the chang that america is wait for __PUNCT__

and health care isn't the onli cost that we not keep up with __PUNCT__

american who work_hard their entir live have earn a secur retir __PUNCT__

but right now __PUNCT__ we got __NUM___million work_peopl in thi countri who don't have employ __PUNCT__ base retir_plan __PUNCT__

person save is at an all __PUNCT__ time low __PUNCT__

a part of the american_dream is at risk __PUNCT__

that why i establish an automat workplac pension polici __PUNCT__

employ will be requir to enrol worker in a direct deposit retir_account that place a small_percentag of each paycheck into the account __PUNCT__

then you have the choic of opt out __PUNCT__ match __PUNCT__ or ad to thi account __PUNCT__

when you chang job __PUNCT__ your save will roll over into your new employ system __PUNCT__ or into a system that you control if you leav the workplac or becom self __PUNCT__ emploi __PUNCT__

and the feder_govern will match save for work_famili __PUNCT__

thi will dramat_increas the number of american who save for retir __PUNCT__ and lift up the amount of save in thi countri __PUNCT__

that the chang we need to help american achiev the retir thei ar work for __PUNCT__

but we need to do more than put the american_dream on a firmer foundat __PUNCT__

everi american ha the right to pursu their dream __PUNCT__

but we also have the respons to make sure that our children can reach a littl further and rise a littl higher than we did __PUNCT__

when i am presid __PUNCT__ we will stop pass bill call no child_left behind that leav the monei behind __PUNCT__ and start make_real invest in educ __PUNCT__

that mean earli_childhood childhood_educ __PUNCT__

that mean recruit an armi of new teacher __PUNCT__ and pai them better __PUNCT__ and support them more so thei not just teach to test __PUNCT__ but teach to teach __PUNCT__

it also mean put a colleg_educ within reach of everi american __PUNCT__

that the best invest we can make in our futur __PUNCT__

i creat a new and fulli refund tax_credit worth___MONEY__ for tuition and fee everi year __PUNCT__ which will cover two __PUNCT__ third of the tuition at the averag public colleg or univers __PUNCT__

i also simplifi the financi_aid applic process so that we don't have a million student who aren't appli for aid becaus it too difficult __PUNCT__

i will start by elimin the current student aid form altogeth __PUNCT__ we us tax data instead __PUNCT__

and i tap the tremend resourc of commun_colleg __PUNCT__ which educ half the undergradu in thi countri __PUNCT__ by creat a new commun colleg partnership program __PUNCT__

we help school determin what skill and technic educ ar need to help local industri __PUNCT__ we expand new degre for emerg field __PUNCT__ and we reward school that graduat more student __PUNCT__

that the chang we need so that our young_peopl can achiev their dream __PUNCT__

thi is what we must do to reclaim the american_dream __PUNCT__

we know it won't be easi __PUNCT__

we hear from the can't __PUNCT__ do __PUNCT__ won't __PUNCT__ do __PUNCT__ won't __PUNCT__ even __PUNCT__ try crowd in washington __PUNCT__ the special_interest and their lobbyist __PUNCT__ the convent think that sai thi countri is just too divid to make_progress __PUNCT__

well i not run for presid to conform to thi convent think __PUNCT__ i run to challeng it __PUNCT__

there is too much at stake __PUNCT__

too much at stake for the famili that can't get ahead __PUNCT__ the elderli worker who face a retir fill with worri __PUNCT__ the kid who doesn't believ america ha a place for her dream __PUNCT__

to stand up for these american __PUNCT__ i don't want to settl for anyth less than real chang __PUNCT__ fundament chang __PUNCT__ chang we need __PUNCT__ chang that we can believ in __PUNCT__

it chang that i been fight for sinc i move out to chicago over two decad_ago __PUNCT__

becaus those dream __PUNCT__ american_dream __PUNCT__ ar worth fight for __PUNCT__

and becaus i wouldn't be stand on thi stage todai if it weren't for the dream of those who came befor me __PUNCT__

the dream of my grandfath __PUNCT__ who march in patton armi and move hi famili west in search of opportun __PUNCT__

the dream of my grandmoth __PUNCT__ who wa up at dawn and work twice as hard at her job becaus a woman had to work_harder to get ahead __PUNCT__

the dream of my father who cross an ocean becaus america offer that light to the world __PUNCT__

the dream of my mother __PUNCT__ a singl_mom who understood that a life rich in famili and experi wa more import than a life of rich __PUNCT__

the dream of those men and women on the south_side of chicago __PUNCT__ who fought with me to creat a futur for their commun after the steel plant wa shutter __PUNCT__

there ha been a lot of talk in thi campaign about the polit of hope __PUNCT__

but the polit of hope doesn't mean hope that thing come easi __PUNCT__

it a polit of believ in thing unseen __PUNCT__ of believ in what thi countri might be __PUNCT__ and of stand up for that belief and fight for it when it hard __PUNCT__

america is the sum of our dream __PUNCT__

and what bind us togeth __PUNCT__ what make us on american_famili __PUNCT__ is that we stand up and fight for each other dream __PUNCT__ that we reaffirm that fundament belief __PUNCT__ i am my brother keeper __PUNCT__ i am my sister keeper __PUNCT__ through our polit __PUNCT__ our polici __PUNCT__ and in our daili_live __PUNCT__

it time to do that onc more __PUNCT__

it time to reclaim the american_dream __PUNCT__